About This Coin

🤼‍♂️ 2011 Olympic Wrestling 50p

Circulating London 2012 Olympic 50p featuring two wrestlers mid-throw – one of the rarest and most sought-after coins in the entire Olympic sports 50p set.

Summary of Value & Key Facts

The 2011 Wrestling 50p is part of the 29-coin London 2012 Olympic collection and is widely regarded as the second-rarest Olympic 50p, behind only the Football “offside rule” coin. With just 1,129,500 pieces entering circulation, it is a top-tier modern rarity and commands a strong premium over face value in almost any grade.

📊 Key Figures

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

Aspect	Figure	Notes
Denomination	50 pence	Standard seven-sided UK 50p coin issued for general circulation in 2011 as part of the London 2012 Olympic sports set.
Alloy, weight & diameter	Cupro-nickel, 8.00 g, 27.30 mm	75% copper, 25% nickel – standard large 50p specification with a plain edge.
Mintage (circulating)	1,129,500	One of the lowest Olympic 50p mintages; officially listed as the second-rarest coin in the Olympic set.
BU / UNC mintage	≈127,000 BU	Uncirculated coins released in Royal Mint packs and sets for collectors.
Designers	Reverse: Roderick Enriquez Obverse: Ian Rank-Broadley	Enriquez designed a “futuristic arena” scene for a very ancient sport; the obverse uses the fourth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Typical value (circulated)	About £4 to £10	Value guides and market data range from around £4.29 based on large eBay samples to £7–£8+ for better circulated examples; some dealers retail at higher levels.
Typical value (UNC / BU)	About £9 to £15+	Uncirculated coins in original packs are commonly quoted around £9.50–£15, depending on condition and seller.
Silver BU mintage	30,000 (approx.)	A sterling-silver BU Wrestling 50p was issued as part of the London 2012 Sports Collection for higher-end collectors.

💡 Collector Notes

The Wrestling 50p is one of the “big four” rare Olympic coins (alongside Football, Judo and Triathlon). Low mintage, a dynamic design and strong Royal Mint publicity all combine to make it a genuine modern trophy coin.

Commemorative theme: Wrestling was one of the original sports in the ancient Olympic Games in Greece, first recorded in 776 BC. The modern Games feature both Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, and the coin honours this long Olympic tradition.
Design: The reverse shows two wrestlers in silhouette, one throwing the other onto a compact mat in a stylised stadium. Small raised dots suggest the watching crowd and the undersized mat emphasises the close, intense nature of wrestling bouts. The London 2012 logo sits above, with “50 PENCE” below.
Rarity in context: With just 1,129,500 struck for circulation, Wrestling is officially classed as “Very Scarce” and ranked as the second-rarest Olympic 50p on major scarcity indexes and Royal Mint lists. Finding one in change today is extremely unlikely, as most have been removed by collectors.
Market values & behaviour: Recent data points include:
- Large-sample eBay analysis putting typical realised prices for circulated coins around £4.19–£4.46, mid-price £4.29.
- Specialist guides quoting around £7 for circulated and £9.50 for UNC.
- Some dealers listing excellent circulated examples around £8–£16, and UNC up to roughly £15.
That’s why a broad guide of about £4–£10 for circulated and £9–£15+ for UNC is a reasonable snapshot of current market behaviour.
Circulating vs collector versions:
- Circulated: Found in change back when the coins were first released; by now, most have been pulled from circulation. Even worn examples attract strong collector interest due to scarcity.
- Brilliant Uncirculated (BU): Sold in Royal Mint Wrestling sports cards and presentation packs. BU coins show full lustre and sharp detail on the wrestlers, mat and stadium dots, and are the preferred option for higher-grade Olympic sets.
- Silver BU / proof: A sterling-silver BU version (mintage about 30,000) exists in the Sports Collection, sitting in a separate, higher price bracket to the base-metal coin.
Collecting tip: For circulation finds, prioritise:
- clear outlines on both wrestlers and the mat,
- a sharp London 2012 logo,
- minimal heavy scratches in the open stadium background.
For BU or silver examples, intact original Royal Mint packaging and any certificates significantly boost long-term desirability and make authentication straightforward – important for such a high-profile, highly collected coin.

Olympic Wrestling 50p

Coin Specifications

How much is the Olympic Wrestling 50p worth?