The 2014 Commonwealth Games were held in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23rd to August 3rd 2014. A total of 17 different sports featured in the Games over 11 days and this 50p commemorative coin was released into circulation honouring the 2014 XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
It's been in circulation now for 10 years so how much is it worth today?
According to current online sales on eBay and Amazon you can expect to pay £3.20 plus postage for this coin in good circulated condition.
It's not the first time the the Royal Mint have released a coin to commemorate the Commonwealth Games. A £2 coin was issued back in 1986 to commemorate the XIII Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh and more recently in 2002, four £2 coins were issued to celebrate the 2002 XVII Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
The series had a £2 coin released for each of the countries in the UK with the flags of England, Scotland, Wales and (the rarest £2 ever released into general circulation) Northern Ireland on the respective coins.
Design of the 2014 Glasgow 50p coin
On the reverse, the wording XX Commonwealth Games Glasgow is written in three lines using a font inspired by the handwriting of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a Glasgow-based architect, designer, and artist.
The St. Andrew's cross from the Scottish flag is overlaid in the middle, with a bike on the left and a sprinter runner on the right.
The two athletes featured were inspired by Sir Chris Hoy and Graeme Obree, two of Scotland’s most successful athletes. The date 2014 is to the left of the runner’s leg. The artist’s initials, AL, are to the right of the runner’s other leg.
The reverse image is designed by Alex Loudon and Dan Flashman. But, only Alex Loudon’s initials appear on the design. The two were from the design firm Tangerine.
Ian Rank-Broadley created the adult crowned head of Queen Elizabeth II on the coin's obverse. Her Majesty is shown in the picture facing to the right while donning the diamond Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.
Her grandmother, Queen Mary, had given the tiara to her as a wedding present in 1947. The photos by Machin and Gottwald also show her donning this tiara.
Her adult head is crowned and facing right in this rendition. Elizabeth II * D * G * REG * F * D *, which stands for Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, is inscribed around her portrait.
Just behind her head, in little letters, is the Royal Society of Sculptors member artist Ian Rank-(IRB) Broadley's signature mark.
The obverse of the coin is portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley was used on all UK coinage from 1998 to 2014 and for some 2015 coins. It was the fourth portrait of the Queen used on coinage.
There is no writing on the edge; it is plain.
Mintage of the Coin
The 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games 50p was released into circulation in 2014 with a mintage of exactly 6,500,000.
As well as the 6.5 million released into circulation, additional versions were released by the Royal Mint including 22,499 Brilliant Uncirculated packs, 13,865 proof versions, 3,261 Silver proof versions and 1,479 Silver Piedfort versions and also just 446 Gold proof versions, which all came in specially crafted presentation boxes with certificates of authenticity or COAs.
In the same year, the Royal Mint issued two commemorative £2 coins; the Trinity House £2 coin and the Outbreak of the First World War £2 coin with Lord Kitchener on the reverse.
Is the 2014 Glasgow 50p Coin Rare?
With a mintage of 6.5 million the coin is not particularly rare in comparison with some other commemorative coins such as the 2016 Jemima Puddle-duck 50p or the 2017 Isaac Newton 50p coin that both have a mintage around 2 million.
Nevertheless, it is not a common coin to receive in your change and a wonderful coin to add to your collection.
How Much Is the Glasgow 50p Coin Worth Today?
As we said, it is always it is difficult to put an exact price on a coin as all coins vary in condition, but we would expect the circulated Glasgow 50p to be worth around £3 in today's market excluding any postage costs.
Where Can I Buy the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth 50p Coin?
You can buy the Glasgow 50p coin online on auction sites such as eBay or Amazon but please ensure you look at all the information and reputation of the seller.
Alternatively, we have this coin in stock and you can purchase here.
Unfortunately, as this coin is now nearly 9 years old, the Royal Mint no longer stock this coin so it is only available to buy on the secondary market.
Are there any known errors of this coin?
The Royal Mint has not confirmed any official errors for this coin.
Bit of Trivia...
The first official Commonwealth Games was held in Hamilton Canada in 1930, and at that time it was called the British Empire Games.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, there will be two more female medal events than men's - 135 to 133, thanks to the addition of women's T20 cricket.