Olympic Rowing 50p

Summary of Value & Key Facts

The 2011 Rowing 50p is one of the 29 coins issued to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games. With a circulation mintage of 1,717,300, it sits in the less common bracket – noticeably scarcer than everyday commemorative 50ps, but easier to find than the very rarest Olympic designs like Football or Judo.

Core specifications and guide values for the standard circulating Rowing 50p.

Rowing is one of Team GB’s most successful Olympic sports, and the coin’s design leans hard into that heritage. The combination of a clean sporting image and bold typography makes this one of the more distinctive coins in the Olympic set.

• Commemorative theme: Issued as part of the official London 2012 Olympic 50p collection. Rowing has been a major medal source for Great Britain, with Team GB winning rowing medals at every Games since the mid-1980s.
• Design: The reverse shows a coxless pair powering through the water from right to left. In their wake are repeated Olympic values – EXCELLENCE, FRIENDSHIP, FAIR PLAY, RESPECT – with the London 2012 logo above and “50 PENCE” below. The lettering emphasises the idea that athletes leave these values behind them as they race.
• Rarity in context: With 1.7 million+ coins in circulation, Rowing is clearly scarcer than high-mintage commemorative 50ps but more obtainable than top-tier rarities like Football, Judo or Triathlon. Most scarcity indexes list it as “Less Common” rather than rare.
• Circulating vs collector versions:
  • Circulated: Found in change with typical wear and contact marks; these are the coins most collectors start with.
  • Brilliant Uncirculated (BU): Sold in Royal Mint Olympic sports cards as coin 19/29. BU pieces show full lustre and sharp detail on the rowers and text, and are preferred for higher-grade Olympic sets.
  • Silver BU / proof: A sterling silver version with limited mintage was also issued, targeted at more specialist collectors and priced significantly above the base-metal coin.
• Value behaviour: Recent price guides and dealer listings typically show:
  • average circulated examples around £2–£3,
  • nicer circulated coins up towards £4,
  • UNC / BU examples commonly around £4.50–£7 depending on packaging and condition.
• Collecting tip: For circulation finds, look for strong detail on the boat, blades and lettering in the wake, plus a clean London 2012 logo with minimal deep scratches. For BU or proof pieces, intact original packaging and any certificates are a big plus for both value and future resale.

Overall, the 2011 Olympic Rowing 50p is a solid mid-scarcity modern coin – thematically perfect for Team GB, visually distinctive, and a must-have for anyone chasing a complete London 2012 Olympic 50p collection.