Both coins weigh 28.28 grams, and have a diameter of 38.61mm. The silver Proof coin would have been in a presentation box, but fortunately there is still a way to tell them apart with just the coins. The standard cupro-nickel coin would be 3.2mm thick, while the silver Proof coin would be 2.89mm thick.
There were actually two versions of the coin issued in 1977: The more common cupronickel version (with a mintage of 37,061,160) A silver proof coin which included 0.841 troy ounces of 0.925 sterling silver (mintage: 377,000)
Proof coin. 28.28 grams of . 925 sterling silver. Diameter: 38.61 millimeters.
Around the edge of the coin reads: 'ELIZABETH II DG. REG FD 1977'. The coin is quite different to others as it measures 3.83cm in diameter and 28.28g in weight. The coin can be purchased on eBay for around £2 meaning it doesn't have a huge amount of worth.
Like many of the early commemorative 50c coins the Silver Jubilee coins were hoarded away in great numbers, and you can easily buy a nice uncirculated coin for just $4 or $5. A coin from a mint set may fetch a couple of dollars more.
These coins were struck in abundance, with a mintage of over 25 million pieces. However, a few examples of 1977 50 Cents coinage later surfaced bearing the non-commemorative Australia coat of arms design used for previous and subsequent years.
The best way to determine if your coins are silver is to view the edge of the coin. If the coin has a solid silver stripe, then you can feel confident that it's silver. If you can see a copper stripe, then the coin is clad. A more subdued silver stripe with faint traces of copper could mean that the coin is 40% silver.
Its maximum mintage of the coins has been fixed at 5,000,070 in a further nod to the Queen's 70 years on the throne. The new coin could be worth thousands of pounds to collectors, depending on the rarity. The Kew Gardens coin was launched in 2009 and has been the most expensive 50p coin on the market.
In short, the Royal Mint's Platinum Jubilee coins are worth no more than their face value currently. As they are still available to purchase and came out this year, it is unlikely for them to be resold for more than their original prices.
There are plenty of circulated and uncirculated Platinum Jubilee 50p coins selling at around the £2 mark on eBay. In contrast, the rarest 50p coin, the Kew Gardens 50p, which you also have in your collection, can be found selling for over 160 times its face value on eBay.
The 2022 UK Platinum Jubilee £5 coin in Royal Mint packaging, is currently fetching £17 (a £9 increase since before Her Majesty's passing).
Our popular silver commemorative coins:
This means that in common with coins in general circulation these coins have legal tender status. Please note that whilst these coins are legal tender, they are not designed for general circulation, so banks and shops are unlikely to accept the coins.
US dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollars were minted in 90% silver until 1964. Produced to save nickel for the war effort, war nickels 1942-1945 are 35% silver (silver nickel production started part way into 1942). Half-dollar coins minted between 1965 and 1970 are 40% silver, but from 1971 on, contain no silver.
American 90% Silver Coins. All American dimes, quarters, and half dollars that were minted in 1964 or earlier contain 90% silver. However, the United States began to face a silver shortage in the 1960s.
Roosevelt and Mercury Dimes, Washington Quarters, and Walking Liberty Franklin and Kennedy Half-Dollars minted in 1964 and earlier are 90% silver. The value of most circulated coins minted in the 1920′s through 1964 is primarily from their silver content. Remember, this is for the most common material.
The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee £5 has been struck to crown size (38.6mm), the traditional size reserved for Royal commemoratives and in a PROOF finish. This is the highest quality possible, coveted most by collectors, each coin struck not once, but twice onto a specially prepared mirrored surface.
Since the queen's death, the demand for currency bearing her image has increased, which has increased the coins' worth. One Australian coin expert said the value of that country's 2013 Purple Coronation $2 coin increased as high as $120, Reuters reports. Several Queen Elizabeth coins have sold for thousands on eBay.
Silver is not magnetic, not even with the strongest magnet. However, silver is diamagnetic. If you hold a silver coin at 45 degrees a suitable magnet will slide down it slowly. This is because the moving magnet sets up an 'electrical field'* that slows its fall.
According to Jon, the rarest and most valuable coin of Queen Elizabeth II is the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p coin which currently has a value of £170. He said: “This coin was released in 2009 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the gardens . “Only 210,000 were put into circulation.
If you want to know how much your coin is worth, the Seaby Standard Catalogue of British Coins is a great reference book that lists the 'catalogue' price of most British coins. However, it's important to remember that just because a coin is listed in a price guide, it doesn't mean there is a demand for it.
Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee, 1977
In 1977 Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Silver Jubilee, marking 25 years of service. The anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession, and the death her father King George VI on 6 February 1952, was commemorated with church services.