Discover more about the Sherlock Holmes 50p coin
The Royal Mint issued a special Sherlock Holmes 50p in May 2019, to celebrate the 160th anniversary of author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s birth. The first story involving the character of Sherlock Holmes was published in 1887, and since then Holmes has inspired countless films, video games, radio plays and TV series.
The BBC TV show Sherlock ran from 2010 to 2017 and was hugely popular. The drama was based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective stories and starred Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Doctor John Watson.
2019 160th Anniversary of the Birth of Arthur Conan Doyle author of Sherlock Holmes 50p Fifty Pence Coin with Airtile Capsule Holder in a Clear Plastic Wallet. Sherlock Holmes 50p 'worth up to TEN times face value' goes into circulation so you could find it in your change May 23, 2019 COIN collectors should start checking their change as the Royal Mint has confirmed that a new 50p piece featuring Sherlock Holmes has gone into general circulation.
The Sherlock Holmes 50p coins were released in 2019 to celebrate 160 years since the birth of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writer of the fictional detective series. It has been said that his works revolutionised the crime genre, and the popularity of Sherlock Holmes resulted in Doyle becoming one of the best-paid authors of the time.
The commemorative 50p coins were made available in Gold proof, Silver Proof, Silver Proof Piedfort and Brilliant Uncirculated versions. Unlike many of the other collectable 50p coins, the Sherlock Holmes 50p was not entered into general circulation, so it's not likely you'll find it in your loose change.
Sherlock Holmes Collectibles For Sale
The specification of the coins is as follows:
Sherlock Holmes 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Coin
- Metal: Cupro-Nickel
- Weight: 8g
- Diameter: 27.30mm
- Mintage: Unlimited
- Retail price: £10
The Gold Proof coin had a mintage of just 400, the Silver Proof coin had a mintage of 6,000, and the Silver Proof Piedfort coin was limited to 2,500 copies. The Royal Mint have now sold out of these special versions of the coin with just the Brilliant Uncirculated – which they describe as 'a higher quality than other coins you’ll find in your pocket' – coin still available.
The coin's design, by Stephen Raw, features a silhouette of Holmes wearing his trademark deerstalker hat and smoking a pipe. He is surrounded by the names of his famous cases – and these names can only be read by using a magnifying glass.
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So how rare is the 2019 Sherlock Holmes 50p coin?
50p Sherlock Holmes Films
Sherlock Holmes Coin
Since the coins have not been put into circulation, the value is fairly straightforward, they are worth the retail price (as shown in the details above). If you do find one in your change you should count yourself lucky and put it aside, as the 50p coins are not intended to be used.