Obverse. Photo © Numista
  • 50 Pence 2010, KM# 1165, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, 100th Anniversary of Girlguiding
  • 50 Pence 2010, KM# 1165, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, 100th Anniversary of Girlguiding
Description

Girlguiding is the operating name of The Guide Association and is the national guiding organisation of the United Kingdom. It is the UK's largest girl-only youth organisation. Guiding began in the UK in 1910, when Robert Baden-Powell, founder of The Boy Scouts Association, established a separate organisation for girls.

Within Girlguiding, participants take on adventurous activities, such as climbing, canoeing, sailing and orienteering and have the opportunity to get involved in camps and international events, including girl-only festivals and overseas development projects. In local groups – called 'units' – girls complete badges and challenges that cover topics from circus skills, stargazing and scientific investigation, to first aid, camping and community action.

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·2010
IRB

Reverse

A hexagon made of six of the shamrock symbols of Girlguiding surrounding a central leaf, depicting a repeating pattern of the current identity of Girlguiding, UK.

Engravers: Jonathan Evans and Donna Hainan

CELEBRATING ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF GIRLGUIDING UK
50
PENCE
DH JE

Edge
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Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Cupronickel
Weight 8 g
Diameter 27.3 mm
Thickness 1.78 mm
Shape polygon
Sides 7
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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