Description

The Royal Mint has issued a 50p to honour the 100th Anniversary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the BBC. It is the world's oldest national broadcaster. On October 18, 1922, a group of renowned wireless makers, one of which was Marconi, established what would later become known as the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), and on November 14, 1922, they began transmitting daily programming.

Broadcasting in the UK across a portfolio of television services and ten UK-wide radio networks, the BBC also has a portfolio of digital services that include BBC News, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. Through the BBC World Service, it also offers programming across the world in 42 languages giving it a unique profile as the world’s leading public service broadcaster. At its very peak, over 30 million people can tune into the BBC, with countless world events, the likes of Eurovision, Del Boy, Match of the Day, the country has been shaped by the BBC.

The coins were produced before the Queen's death in September, but the Royal Mint said it was not replacing it with the portrait of King Charles III to minimise waste or unnecessary environmental impact.

The Brilliant Uncirculated cupro-nickel coin versions are housed in a blister-pak type folder with informative text and illustrations. Both versions of the sterling silver Proof coins are presented in a custom black vinyl case, and the gold Proof coins are presented in a polished hardwood case. All are accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity.

A piedfort is an unusually thick coin, often exactly twice the normal weight and thickness of other coins of the same diameter and pattern. Piedforts are not normally circulated, and are only struck for presentation purposes by mint officials (such as patterns), or for collectors, dignitaries, and other VIPs.