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The British Fifty Pence coin was issued on October 14, 1969 in the run-up to decimalisation. The coin is minted from an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel. Note that the coin is not circular but an equilaterally curved heptagon. This denomination has frequently been used for commemorative purposes, and consequently there are more design variations in this coin than in any other current British denomination.

The normal reverse of the coin, designed by Christopher Ironside, depicts the seated Britannia with a lion. Three different effigies of Queen Elizabeth II have been used on the obverse.