Obverse. Photo © Numista
  • 50 Pence 2014, KM# 1311, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
  • 50 Pence 2014, KM# 1311, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
  • 50 Pence 2014, KM# 1311, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Printed card
Description

The 2014 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XX Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Glasgow 2014, were held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 3 August 2014. Held in Scotland for the third time, the Games were notable for the successes of the Home Nations of the United Kingdom, with England, Wales and hosts Scotland achieving their largest ever gold medal hauls and overall medal hauls at a Commonwealth Games. England finished top of the medal table for the first time since the 1986 Commonwealth Games, also held in Scotland.

The Commonwealth Games (known as the British Empire Games from 1930–1950, the British Empire and Commonwealth Games from 1954–1966, and British Commonwealth Games from 1970–1974) is an international multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exception of 1942 and 1946, which were cancelled due to World War II, has taken place every four years since then. Although there are 53 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, 70 teams participate in the Commonwealth Games, as a number of dependent territories compete under their own flags. The four Home Nations of the United Kingdom—England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland—also send separate teams. Only six countries have attended every Commonwealth Games: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales.

Obverse

Fourth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara was a wedding present in 1947 from her grandmother, Queen Mary, who received it as a gift from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland in 1893 on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of York, later George V. Made by E. Wolfe & Co., it was purchased from Garrard & Co. by a committee organised by Lady Eve Greville. In 1914, Mary adapted the tiara to take 13 diamonds in place of the large oriental pearls surmounting the tiara. At first, Elizabeth wore the tiara without its base and pearls but the base was reattached in 1969. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara is one of Elizabeth's most recognisable pieces of jewellery due to its widespread use on British banknotes and coinage.

ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FIDEI DEFENSATRIX means Elizabeth II, by the grace of God, Queen and Defender of the Faith.

Engraver: Ian Rank-Broadley

ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D
IRB
FIFTY PENCE

Reverse

A cyclist and an athlete straddling the Scottish Saltire.

The national flag of Scotland (a blue field with a white diagonal cross that extends to the corners of the flag) is also known as St Andrew's Cross or the Saltire.

Engravers: Alex Loudon, Dan Flashman

XX
COMMONWEALTH
GAMES GLASGOW
2014
AL

Edge
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Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Cupronickel
Weight 8 g
Diameter 27.3 mm
Thickness 2 mm
Shape polygon
Sides 7
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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