Natural History Museum launches third coin collection with The Royal Mint
In a continuation of the highly successful Tales of the Earth series, the Natural History Museum has collaborated with The Royal Mint to launch their third collection, celebrating some of the Museum’s most iconic specimens from their unparalleled dinosaur collection.
The first coin in the Iconic Specimens series is available to purchase from The Royal Mint’s website from today. It features Tyrannosaurus and pays tribute to the discovery of this legendary beast in 1900, with the jawbone of this incredible find still on display at the Museum today. This is the first time that Tyrannosaurus has been depicted on a UK fifty pence.
This three-part collection will also feature Stegosaurus and Diplodocus on their own coins, which will each become available to purchase in 2024. All three coins have been designed by renowned British paleo-artist Robert Nicholls, with expert guidance from Professor Paul Barrett at the Natural History Museum.
The Museum’s Stegosaurus specimen, fondly referred to as ‘Sophie’, is the world’s most complete Stegosaurus skeleton ever discovered and has helped to answer many of the questions asked by palaeontologists about this species for more than a century. The Diplodocus coin has been inspired by the Museum’s iconic Diplodocus cast, affectionately known as ‘Dippy’, the first Diplodocus to go on display anywhere in the world when it was gifted to the Museum in 1905. Arguably the nation’s favourite dinosaur, Dippy visited more than 2 million people during a two-year tour of the UK back in 2018, capturing hearts and imaginations.
Maxine Lister, Head of Licensing, Natural History Museum, says: “We are thrilled to continue our work with The Royal Mint on the Tales of the Earth series. Dinosaurs have long since sparked feelings of curiosity and awe, and it is brilliant to see three of the most iconic specimens – including a nod to the nation’s favourite dinosaur, Dippy – immortalised on a 50p coin. We hope that this collection will help all, young and old, to share in the wonder of our natural world.”
Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said, “We are excited to reveal the roar-some new collectable 50p coins by The Royal Mint, featuring some of the most legendary and mighty dinosaurs of all time – including Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Diplodocus. For nearly 200 million years, dinosaurs roamed the Earth so it’s fitting that they are honoured forever on an official UK coin. Seeing these dinosaurs on a 50p coin we hope it will delight and inspire both current and budding palaeontologists for years to come.
This is the third coin collection in The Royal Mint’s ‘Tales of the Earth’ series celebrating awe-inspiring ancient creatures and dinosaurs, following on from the hugely successful Dinosauria and Mary Anning collections.
The collectable 50p coin series featuring Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus and Diplodocus is available to purchase from The Royal Mint’s website, with colour editions of the coin also available. Prices start from £11.
