As fans of the world’s most famous detective can rejoice! The Royal Mint has just released a commemorative 50p coin to mark the 150th anniversary of his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This stunning coin features an iconic silhouette of Sherlock Holmes set against a backdrop of his iconic pipe and deerstalker hat. This piece is sure to be a hit with fans as it celebrates the genius that was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and all that he achieved in his lifetime. Read on to learn more about this unique collectible, where and when you can get one, and how it honors one of literature’s greatest characters.
Who was Sherlock Holmes?
In 1892, Arthur Conan Doyle published the first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet. The detective quickly became popular with readers, and Doyle wrote 56 more stories about Holmes over the next 30 years.
Holmes was a master of deduction who could solve the most difficult cases with ease. He lived at 221B Baker Street in London, and his trusted friend and assistant Dr. Watson often helped him on his cases.
Although he was fictional, Sherlock Holmes has been hugely influential in both literature and pop culture. He has been adapted for stage, screen, radio, and TV countless times, and is one of the most well-known literary characters in the world.
Celebrating Sherlock Holmes
To celebrate the release of the new Sherlock Holmes movie, the Royal Mint has released a commemorative coin!
The silver proof coin features a portrait of the iconic detective, as portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch on the obverse, with a map of Baker Street and the famous address “221B” on the reverse.
The coins are available in a range of sizes, from a 50p piece to a two pound coin. Fans of the detective can also purchase a special edition gold proof coin.
To mark the occasion, over one hundred Sherlock Holmes fan clubs and societies around the world are hosting events to celebrate the release of the movie. Events include book readings, film screenings, and cosplay contests.
The different 50p coins released by the Royal Mint
The Sherlock Holmes 50p coin was released by the Royal Mint in 2015 as part of a series commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Arthur Conan Doyle.
It is one of five different 50p coins released by the Mint in 2015, each featuring a different design based on one of Doyle’s stories.
The other four coins in the series are The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Sign of Four, A Study in Scarlet, and The Hound of the Baskervilles.
The Sherlock Holmes 50p coin has a reverse design featuring an image of Sherlock Holmes in profile, based on a portrait by Sidney Paget that appeared in The Strand magazine. The obverse features the fifth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark.
What does the Sherlock Holmes 50p coin look like?
The Sherlock Holmes 50p coin is a commemorative coin minted by the Royal Mint in the United Kingdom to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. The coin was first released on 4 October 2019.
The obverse (front) of the coin features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Jody Clark. The words “ELIZABETH II D G REG F D” appear around the edge of the coin.
The reverse (back) of the coin features an image of Sherlock Holmes based on a drawing by Sidney Paget, one of the illustrators of Conan Doyle’s stories. The word “SHERLOCK” appears above the image, with “HOLMES” and “50P” below.
The coin is silver in colour and has a diameter of 27.3mm.
How Many Sherlock Holmes 50p Coins Were Minted?
The first Sherlock Holmes 50p coin was minted in 2011, and there have been six different designs released so far.
The most recent one, which was released in 2019, has a mintage of 20 million.
That means that a total of at least 120 million Sherlock Holmes 50p coins have been minted!
How many Sherlock Holmes 50p coins are in circulation?
As of October 2019, there are approximately 3.5 million Sherlock Holmes 50p coins in circulation.
The Royal Mint began production of the coin in September 2019, and it is estimated that there will be a total of 5 million coins minted.
The coin is part of a series of British culture-themed 50p coins that also includes coins for Shakespeare, Beatrix Potter, and J.R.R. Tolkien.
How can I get my hands on a Sherlock Holmes 50p coin?
If you’re looking to get your hands on a Sherlock Holmes 50p coin, there are a few different ways you can go about it.
One option is to purchase the coin directly from the Royal Mint website.
Another option is to find a reputable coin dealer or collector who may have the coin in their inventory.
Finally, you could also check online auction sites like eBay to see if any Sherlock Holmes 50p coins are up for grabs. Whichever route you decide to go, just be sure to do your research beforehand to ensure that you’re getting a genuine coin.
What does it say on the Sherlock Holmes 50p?
The Sherlock Holmes 50p coin is a commemorative coin minted by the Royal Mint in 2015. The coin celebrates the 50th anniversary of the publication of Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
The coin’s obverse features an image of Queen Elizabeth II, while the reverse features an image of Sherlock Holmes in profile, inspired by a portrait of the author by Sidney Paget.
Conclusion
The new Sherlock Holmes 50p coin is an excellent way to celebrate the most famous of all fictional detectives.
The design of the coin is sure to delight fans and collectors alike, with its homage to one of Britain’s greatest characters.
Even if you’re not a fan yourself it’s well worth owning a piece of currency that commemorates such an iconic figure in literature. So why not add this unique coin to your collection?
What is the rarest special 50p?
There are a few different versions of the Sherlock Holmes 50p coin, but the rarest is the special edition that was released in 2016.
This coin was only available through a limited release from The Royal Mint, and it quickly sold out.
Only a few thousand of these coins were ever made, which makes them quite rare and hard to find. If you’re lucky enough to come across one of these coins, you can expect to pay a premium price for it.
What are the top 10 rarest 50p coins?
- Sherlock Holmes 50p – Only 310,000 made
2. Kew Gardens 50p – 6.8 million made
3. Olympics Wrestling 50p – 935,500 made
4. Olympic Triathlon 50p – 935,500 made
5. Simon de Montfort 50p – 1.4 million made
6. Edinburgh City of Culture 50p – 2.6 million made
7. Battle of Hastings 50p – 1,700,500 made
8. Macmillan Cancer Support 50p – 807,000 made
9. Scouting Centenary 2007 50p – 2,880,000 made
10. Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland 2002 50p – 3,530,000
In Summary
The article discussed how the character of Sherlock Holmes has been used on British coinage throughout the years. The first mention of Sherlock Holmes on coinage was in 1891, when he appeared on a half-penny piece.
Since then, he has appeared on several different coins, including a two-pound coin in 2014. The article goes on to discuss some of the different designs that have been used for Sherlock Holmes coins over the years.
I hope you find this useful.
