Obverse. Photo © Royal Mint
  • 50 Pence 2020, Sp# H84, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Dinosauria Collection, Hylaeosaurus
  • 50 Pence 2020, Sp# H84, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Dinosauria Collection, Hylaeosaurus
Description

The Natural History Museum has partnered with The Royal Mint to create The Dinosauria Collection, a series of coins that celebrate Britain’s contribution to the discovery of dinosaurs. The first time a dinosaur has featured on an official UK coin, the collection features Megalosaurus, Iguanodon and Hylaeosaurus.

Along with specimens of Iguanodon and Hylaeosaurus, the fossilised remains of Megalosaurus led anatomist Richard Owen to conclude that all three belonged to a distinct group of reptiles, coining the term ‘Dinosauria’ in 1842 to describe this new taxonomic group. His discovery fuelled public imagination and ‘dinomania’ shows no signs of abating today.

Featuring a design by palaeo-artist Robert Nicholls who specialises in producing anatomically accurate reconstructions of natural history specimens, this 50p coin was designed with the expert guidance of the Earth Sciences Department of the Natural History Museum. Available as a gold and silver Proof, colour-printed silver Proof, colour-printed Brilliant Uncirculated exclusive to The Royal Mint and standard Brilliant Uncirculated edition, it’s a fitting tribute to a landmark British discovery.

Obverse

The fifth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the George IV State Diadem and drop earrings.

The George IV State Diadem, officially the Diamond Diadem, is a type of crown that was made in 1820 for King George IV. The diadem is worn by queens and queens consort in procession to coronations and State Openings of Parliament. The piece of jewellery has been featured in paintings and on stamps and currency. It can be seen in the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

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

Engraver: Jody Clark

·ELIZABETH II·D·G·REG·F·D·50 PENCE·2020
J.C

Reverse

Depicts a Megalosaurus, between Mesozoic plants. Below three fossilised dinosaur spines. The designer's initials RN (for Robert Nicholls) are below the exergue line, under the spines.

Hylaeosaurus (Greek: hylaios/ὑλαῖος "belonging to the forest" and sauros/σαυρος "lizard") is a herbivorous ankylosaurian dinosaur that lived about 136 million years ago, in the late Valanginian stage of the early Cretaceous period of England.

Hylaeosaurus was one of the first dinosaurs to be discovered in 1832 and named in 1833 by Gideon Mantell. Only limited remains have been found of Hylaeosaurus and much of its anatomy is unknown. It might have been a basal nodosaurid, although a recent cladistic analysis recovers it as a basal ankylosaurid. Hylaeosaurus was about five metres long. It was an armoured dinosaur. It carried at least three long spines on its shoulder.

HYLAEOSAURUS
RN
MANTELL 1833

Edge

50 Pence

5th portrait, Gold Proof Coin
Sp# H84
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.916
Weight 15.5 g
Diameter 27.3 mm
Thickness -
Shape polygon
Sides 7
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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