New Release: 2026 Royal Mint Annual Sets
New Release: 2026 Royal Mint Annual Sets
As a circulating coin, the Sherlock Holmes 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.
High-quality images of the 2019 Sherlock Holmes 50p showing obverse and design details. Click any image to view full size.
Tip: Click any image to view it in full size. All images show the actual 2019 Sherlock Holmes 50p as issued by The Royal Mint, helping you identify genuine coins and understand their design features.
The Sherlock Holmes 50p coin, released in 2019 to celebrate 160 years since the character's creation by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, has a relatively modest value in the collector's market. With a mintage of 8,602,000 coins, it's not particularly rare and can still occasionally be found in circulation.
Circulated coins typically sell for face value to £1.50, depending on condition. Well-worn examples may only fetch face value, while near-mint circulated specimens can command a small premium.
Uncirculated coins from official Royal Mint packaging generally sell between £2 and £5. These coins show no signs of wear and maintain their original lustre.
Proof versions in silver or special finishes can command higher prices, typically ranging from £15 to £25 or more, depending on the specific variant and packaging.
Given the relatively modest values, most collectors hold onto these coins as part of a broader commemorative 50p collection rather than selling individual examples. The coin is more valuable as part of a complete set of literary-themed 50p coins than as a standalone piece.
2019 Elizabeth II 'Sherlock Holmes' 50p Coin. Struck in 2019 to commemorate the 160th anniversary of Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle’s birth.
The reverse of the coin was designed by Stephen Raw and shows Sherlock Holmes in profile, wearing his iconic deerstalker hat and pipe and surrounded by the titles of some of the more popular Holmes stories. The obverse shows the last coinage portrait of Elizabeth II, designed by Jody Clark.
Designed by Stephen Raw, this coin isn't just a commemorative, it's an interactive puzzle. Raw used a font size so small it deliberately requires a magnifying glass to read, mirroring Holmes' own forensic methods.
With 8,602,000 minted, this coin is common on paper. However, "Collector Attrition" is high. Because Holmes is a global icon, tourists and non-collectors hoard them as souvenirs, effectively removing millions from circulation.
Be wary of high-priced "errors" on eBay. Most reported errors are simply post-mint damage or a misunderstanding of the intentionally tiny micro-text. No official mule errors have ever been confirmed for this strike.
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.
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. |
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.
