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UK Coins

Roger Bannister 50p

Cupro-nickel Circulating 2004 50p  Share This Coin:
Roger Bannister 50p - Reverse - 2004 UK 50p Coin
Price Guide
£0.50
Rarity Score 40

Coin Specifications

Denomination
50p
Year
2004
Metal
Cupro-nickel
Finish
Circulating
Mintage
9,032,500
Weight
8.00 g
Diameter
27.30mm
Obverse
Ian Rank-Broadley
Reverse
James Butler

How much is the Roger Bannister 50p worth?

As a circulating coin, the Roger Bannister 50p is worth its face value of 50p. However, collectors may pay more for high-grade examples or if the coin is scarce. Check our rarity score to see how sought-after this coin is.

Coin Description

2004 Elizabeth II 'The 50th Anniversary of the First Four-Minute Mile' 50p Coin

About This Coin

Struck in 2004 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the First Four-Minute Mile.

Designed by James Butler, the reverse of the coin depicts the legs of a running athlete, with a stylised stopwatch in the background.

The obverse side features the fourth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley.

🏃‍♂️ 2004 “Four-Minute Mile” 50p
Struck to commemorate Sir Roger Bannister’s historic sub-four-minute mile.

Summary of Completed Coin Sales

Based on completed sales listings and external market data, here is how this coin typically performs in the secondary market.

📊 Sales Snapshot

Prices below exclude postage and separate everyday circulated finds from higher-grade collector issues.

Coin Condition Price Range
(Excluding P&P)		 Notes
Circulated (found in change) £0.62 to £2.77 Most common sales price is around £1.16 to £1.99, plus postage. A low-end auction sold for as little as £0.62.
Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) £3.00 to £6.99 Coins described as “BUNC” (Brilliant Uncirculated) or supplied in original Royal Mint packaging consistently sold for higher prices.
Premium Proofs £23.04 to £52.70 Proof coins (higher quality, non-circulating), such as Silver Proof and professionally graded examples, fetch significantly higher prices. A graded Proof PF69 NGC coin sold for £52.70.
💡 Advice for a UK Coin Collector

The 2004 “Roger Bannister” 50p is a desirable commemorative coin, but its value is strongly tied to both its high mintage and the condition of the individual piece.

  • Mintage and Scarcity: The coin had a substantial mintage of 9,032,500 released into circulation. Because of this, it is generally considered a common coin to find in your change, and its value is often described as being close to face value (50p).
  • The Design: Designed by James Butler, the reverse is notable for celebrating the achievement of a living person. It shows a runner’s legs in motion with a stopwatch set just before the four-minute mark.
  • Collection Focus:
    • Circulated: A neat addition if found in your change but typically only carries a modest premium — around £1.50 to £2.00 in average circulated grade.
    • Uncirculated: For a more serious collection, target a Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) version, which often sells in the £5 to £7 range.
    • Premium Issues: The rarest and most valuable versions are the Silver Proof, Piedfort Silver Proof, and Gold Proof issues. These have low mintages and achieve much higher prices.
  • 2019 Reissue: The Royal Mint reissued the design in 2019 as part of a collector set, but this version did not enter general circulation and is available only to collectors.