About This Coin

⛵ 2011 Olympic Sailing 50p

Circulating London 2012 Olympic 50p featuring three small sailing boats off the Dorset coast – a “scarce” mid-tier coin in the Olympic sports set.

Summary of Value & Key Facts

The 2011 Sailing 50p is part of the 29-coin London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic series. With a circulation mintage of 1,749,500, it is classed as scarce on modern rarity indexes – not as rare as the headline coins like Football or Judo, but definitely harder to find than most commemorative 50p designs.

📊 Key Figures

Core specifications and guide values for the standard circulating Sailing 50p.

Aspect	Figure	Notes
Denomination	50 pence	Standard seven-sided UK 50p issued for general circulation in 2011 as part of the London 2012 sports set.
Alloy, weight & diameter	Cupro-nickel, 8.00 g, 27.30 mm	75% copper, 25% nickel – the usual “large” 50p specification with a plain edge.
Mintage (circulating)	1,749,500	Official circulation mintage; generally ranked as a “scarce” Olympic 50p on the rarity index.
BU / UNC mintage	138,535 (BU/UNC)	Brilliant Uncirculated coins sold in Royal Mint “Sailing” sports cards and sets (product code LUK50SAI).
Designers	Reverse: Bruce Rushin Obverse: Ian Rank-Broadley	Rushin also designed the UK’s first bi-metallic £2 coin; obverse shows the fourth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Typical value (circulated)	About £1.50 to £3	Coin value guides and recent sales put the usual range around £1.50–£3, with some sources suggesting up to about £4 for very nice examples.
UNC / BU value (guide)	About £4.50 to £6+	Brilliant Uncirculated coins in original Royal Mint packs are typically valued around £4.50, with dealers sometimes asking a little more depending on condition and packaging.

💡 Collector Notes

The Sailing 50p is a neat blend of sport and geography: it doesn’t just show racing yachts, it also quietly points to the real-world venue where the London 2012 sailing events took place.

Commemorative theme: Issued as one of 29 designs celebrating the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Great Britain is the most successful nation in Olympic sailing history, and the coin reflects that heritage.
Design: The reverse shows three one-man sailing boats racing on the sea, with stylised wave lines in the lower part of the coin and a navigation-style grid in the upper part. In the top right is the coastal outline of Chesil Beach and Portland Bill near Weymouth – the actual site used for the 2012 sailing events – with the London 2012 logo above and “50 PENCE” below.
Rarity in context: With 1.75 million coins in circulation, Sailing is clearly scarcer than high-mintage commemorative 50ps and sits in the “scarce / mid-tier” band of the Olympic series. It’s not as rare as Football, Judo or Triathlon, but it’s definitely not a common find in change either.
Circulating vs collector versions:
- Circulated: Found in change with typical wear and contact marks; these are the coins most collectors encounter first.
- Brilliant Uncirculated (BU): Sold in Royal Mint “Sailing” Olympic sports cards. BU pieces show full lustre and crisp detail on the boats, grid and coastline, and are the preferred choice for higher-grade type or date sets.
- Silver BU / proof: A sterling silver version (around 30,000 mintage) was also issued for collectors, distinct from the base-metal circulation coin and usually priced significantly higher.
Value behaviour: Most recent guides cluster circulated examples around £1.50–£2.50, with some sellers achieving close to £3–£4 for particularly sharp pieces. BU coins in original Royal Mint packaging tend to sit around the £4.50 mark and can reach higher if supply is tight.
Collecting tip: For circulation finds, look for clean wave lines, a clearly defined coastline shape, and minimal scratching in the open grid areas. For BU or silver pieces, intact original packaging and any certificates are a big plus for long-term value and resale.

Olympic Sailing 50p

Coin Specifications

How much is the Olympic Sailing 50p worth?