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🕵️‍♂️ 2019 Sherlock Holmes 50p – Circulating Coin

Circulating 50p marking the 160th anniversary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s birth, featuring Sherlock Holmes in silhouette surrounded by story titles – a true modern “character coin” that many people keep the moment they notice it.

Summary of Value & Key Facts

The 2019 Sherlock Holmes 50p was struck for general circulation and can still be found in change today. With a circulation mintage of around 8,602,000, it is classed as a common coin by rarity guides and is usually valued at or close to face value in circulated condition.

📊 Key Figures (Circulating Coin)

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

Aspect	Figure	Notes
Denomination	50 pence	Seven-sided UK commemorative 50p issued for general circulation in 2019.
Alloy, weight & diameter	Cupro-nickel, 8.00 g, 27.30 mm	Standard modern 50p specification (75% copper, 25% nickel) with a plain edge.
Year of issue	2019	Issued to celebrate 160 years since the birth of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes.
Circulation mintage	8,602,000	Official circulation figure; widely available in change and rated as a common 50p.
BU mintage (reference)	111,805 BU	Total Brilliant Uncirculated mintage across all Royal Mint packs and sets (62,060 in Sherlock Holmes packs, 49,745 in other BU products).
Designers	Reverse: Stephen Raw Obverse: Jody Clark	Reverse shows Holmes’ silhouette with story titles; obverse carries the fifth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Typical value (circulated)	About £0.50	Coin Hunter lists the circulation value as face value (FV); most circulated pieces trade around 50p unless in exceptional condition or part of a bundle.
Typical value (BU, for comparison)	About £4	A Brilliant Uncirculated Sherlock Holmes 50p in as-new condition is typically valued around £4.

💡 Collector Notes (Circulating Coin)

The Sherlock Holmes 50p is one of those designs that instantly pops: pipe, deerstalker, and a ring of story titles. It’s not rare, but it’s very “keepable”, which is why you see fewer in change than the mintage alone suggests.

Commemorative theme: Released to mark the 160th anniversary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s birth. The coin honours both the author and his most famous creation, Sherlock Holmes, often described as the most influential detective in literature.
Reverse design: Stephen Raw’s design shows a silhouette of Sherlock Holmes smoking his pipe, surrounded by the titles of Conan Doyle stories such as The Hound of the Baskervilles and A Study in Scarlet. The inscriptions “SHERLOCK HOLMES” and “50 PENCE” complete the design.
Rarity & hype: With over 8.6 million in circulation, this is a common coin. Some media reports highlight individual high eBay listings or rare proof versions in precious metal, but ordinary circulation coins remain close to face value; high list prices do not always reflect actual sale prices.
Circulating vs collector versions:
- Circulated: Found in change, usually with bag marks and light wear; most are valued at around 50p unless in unusually sharp condition.
- Brilliant Uncirculated (BU): Sold in Royal Mint BU packs and sets; guide value about £4 in as-new condition.
- Silver and gold proofs: Limited-mintage sterling-silver and 22-carat gold proof versions exist for higher-end collectors, with separate (much higher) price points.
Collecting tip (circulated): When picking a Sherlock Holmes 50p for your album, look for:
- a clear outline of Holmes’ profile (nose, hat, pipe),
- fully readable story titles around the edge of the design,
- minimal heavy scratches across the central silhouette.
“Uncirculated from bag” examples (shiny but with a few contact marks) make a nice upgrade over well-worn coins.

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Summary of Value & Key Facts