Bailiwick of Jersey 50p Worth: Types and Value Guide

Bailiwick of Jersey 50p Worth: Types and Value Guide

There is a longstanding tradition of the 50p production in the Bailiwick of Jersey. As a British Crown Dependency, the country introduced the new fifty-pence coin in 1969, having followed the monetary model of the UK and its path toward the decimalized pound sterling system. 

Currently, the Mint strikes regular circulation issues and non-circulating commemorative coins, with a medium bullion value of ~€14.83 euros (for silver) and ~€1416.65 (for gold). The prices of common coins, however, do not usually exceed the face value, which is £0.50, half a pound. But what do the rare coins cost? Is the Bailiwick of Jersey 50p worth anything, should it be genuine, well-preserved, and uncommon?

The Main 50p Bailiwick of Jersey Types

Type

Years

50 New Pence – Elizabeth II, 2nd portrait

1969–1980

50p – Elizabeth II, 2nd portrait

1981

50p – Elizabeth II, 2nd portrait (large type)

1983–1997

50p – Elizabeth II, 2nd portrait (small type)

1997

50p – Elizabeth II, 4th portrait

1998–2016

Various non-circulating commemorative issues

1972, 1983, 1985, 2003, 2011–...

Overview of Jersey 50p Coins

The monetary system of Jersey developed within the wider sterling framework, since the country is a British Crown Dependency that issues its own coins but still remains connected to the United Kingdom. The decimal coins, which 50p denomination belongs to, followed the same path as the British 50p did: it was introduced in 1969 and later evolved into a new, smaller format in the late 1990s. 

Although the main bulk of current 50p production is occupied by the commemorative issues, there are still many of the common circulation strikes in use. The modern Jersey output, however, is not really high: in 2016, the Mint released only 120,000 pieces, compared to 45,600,000 units in the UK (the same year).

Bailiwick of Jersey 50 Pence coin with Queen Elizabeth II second portrait

Design Features

Obverse: As for the front of all 50p coins from the Bailiwick of Jersey, there is the portrait of the monarch, i.e., Queen Elizabeth II or later King Charles III. The versions vary, however, depending on the year (which is also reflected on the obverse side).

Reverse: On the reverse side, one may see a shield with three lions, the Grosnez Castle, or commemorative motifs (e.g., the Archbishop crowning Queen, the regalia in quatrilobe, etc.), as well as the name of the country and the denomination along the rim.

“...On and after the appointed day the denominations of money in the currency of Jersey shall be the pound and the new penny, the new penny being one-hundredth part of a pound…”
— Jersey Legal Information Board
Decimal Currency (Jersey) Law 1971

Specifications

The physical features of these numismatic creations fall into two categories, i.e., the earlier large format and the later small type.


Characteristic

Large type (1969–1981; 1983–1997; 1985 commemorative)

Small type (1997–2016)

Composition

Copper-nickel

Silver

Gold-plated copper

Gold-plated steel

Gold

Copper-nickel

Weight

13.5 g

8 g

Diameter

30 mm

27.3 mm

Thickness

~2.45 mm

1.78 mm

Mint

Llantrisant, United Kingdom

Llantrisant, United Kingdom

Bailiwick of Jersey 50p Worth Today

There is no universal answer to how much a 50p coin may be worth, since it is closely associated with the year of mintage, scarce dates, special-edition examples, and the grade, attributed by the coin grading service like NGC or PCGS.


Type

F

VF

XF

AU

UNC

Commemorative value

50 New Pence (1969–1980)

€1.30

€1.30

€1.70

€2.00

€2.00

Large type (1983–1997)

€1.10

€1.60

€2.10

€3.00

Small type (1998–2016)

€0.53

€0.89

€1.20

€1.20

€1.70

Copper-nickel 

~€8–€35

Silver

€24–€35+

Gold

above €1,500


The prices tend to fluctuate. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to Coin ID Scanner, i.e., an advanced application that may help you identify and analyze coins, let alone the exploration of possible value ranges on the spot. 

Is the Bailiwick of Jersey 50p Rare?

Common circulation coins can be found in relatively large quantities, yet particular years and commemorative issues are substantially harder to find. In fact, the scarcest pieces are usually non-circulating commemoratives and a few low-mintage circulation issues (e.g., the 1985 Liberation coin and later Grosnez Castle dates).

Bailiwick of Jersey 50 Pence Golden Jubilee silver proof coin with Queen Elizabeth II

Rarest Jersey 50p Issues

  • 1985 Liberation: 65,000

  • 2003 Coronation Jubilee: 10,000 (for each metal and design type)

  • 2005 Grosnez Castle: 200,000

  • 2011 Diamond Jubilee: approx. 29,995 (unknown)  

  • 2020 75th Anniversary of Liberation: approx. 9,500 

Even though it is difficult to distinguish a single rare coin with an extraordinary price, one should never neglect the regular-circulation pieces, as they are also scarcer than they first appear.

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