The Royal Mint in collaboration with the Natural History Museum has unveiled a series of collectable 50p coins featuring iconic dinosaur specimens.
The new dinosaur-themed coin series will see Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus and Diplodocus appear on their own individual 50p coins. The coins are available to purchase from the Royal Mint’s website. Prices start from £11, with colour editions of the coins also available.
Each design featuring the iconic dinosaur specimens has been created by paleo-artist Robert Nicholls and depicts a scientifically accurate reconstruction of the dinosaur and the environment in which it lived.
Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint, said, “We are excited to reveal the roar-some new collectable 50p coins by The Royal Mint, featuring some of the most legendary and mighty dinosaurs of all time – including Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Diplodocus.
“For nearly 200 million years, dinosaurs roamed the earth so it’s fitting that they are honoured forever on an official UK coin. Seeing these dinosaurs on a 50p coin we hope it will delight and inspire both current and budding palaeontologists for years to come.
“Our team of craftspeople have faithfully reproduced Robert Nicholls’ technical drawings to ensure each dinosaur appears in fine detail. Recreating the mighty Tyrannosaurus on the tiny canvas of a fifty pence takes a lot of skill, and we’re really proud of the result.”
Robert Nicholls, designer of The Royal Mint’s Dinosaur 50p coin collection, said: “I have dedicated my life to bringing extinct animals back to life through art, I started drawing dinosaurs as soon as I could hold a pencil – it is my obsession. Any project that allows me to work with long-dead animals is a joy but having an opportunity to create collectable coins for The Royal Mint, with royal approval, is very special indeed.”
