A special anniversary edition of the 50p celebrates the science behind the shape

50 years ago a revolutionary new coin entered circulation ahead of the decimal switchover. Half a century later it’s still a mainstay of our coinage, testament to the science behind its radical design. As we celebrate 50 years of the 50p, a special anniversary coin pays tribute to Hugh Conway and his team. Tasked with creating a coin easily distinguishable by touch and sight that would still roll smoothly, their perfectly engineered solution gave us the world’s first seven-sided coin.