This is when the Brexit 50p coin will enter circulation – and how you can get one

Millions of new 50p coins are due to be minted and released into circulation this month, to mark the UK’s departure from the European Union.

Keen coin collectors will be able to get their hands on the commemorative 50p from Friday 31 January 2020 – the so-called ‘Brexit day’.

Around three million of the coins are set to be released on the day the UK leaves the European Union at the end of this month.

The coins have been specially commissioned to commemorate the historic day, with the date expected to be printed on the coin.

Each 50p will be emblazoned with the inscription ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations’ on the tails side.

It is also presumed to detail the leave date of 31 January 2020 underneath.

Plans to produce the commemorative coins were first announced by former chancellor Philip Hammond in the 2018 budget, and have since been taken on by his successor Sajid Javid.

The Brexit 50p will join a line of several other EU-inspired coins in the UK, including one marking when the country joined the European Economic Community in 1973, and when the UK held the presidency of the EU Council in 1998.

The Prime Minister will be one of the first to get his hands on the new 50p, when he holds a special cabinet meeting on 31 January at a venue in the north of England.

Each 50p will be emblazoned with the inscription ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations’ (Photo: Shutterstock)

The release date later this month marks the third time lucky for the release of the coin, having initially been due to enter circulation on 31 March 2019, when around 1,000 prototypes were made.

A second batch of coins were then manufactured when Brexit was delayed until 31 October 2019, but the UK’s leave date was pushed back once again.

After the planned release of three million coins on 31 October, a further seven million of the special 50ps were then due to follow within the year, each emblazoned with the exit date and the inscription.

Only around 1,000 of the coins were thought to have been created as part of the trial run.

In response to the questions about the production of the coins at the end of last year, the Royal Mint said, “We can confirm that Royal Proclamation has been passed for a fifty pence coin commemorating the UK’s departure from the European Union.

“This means the coin has become legal tender, and we will begin production in time for the UK’s departure from the EU.”

Coins that featured the previous leave date of 31 October effectively had an error, thereby increasing their value to collectors.

So-called ‘error coins’ can fetch thousands from coin collectors, with a Guy Fawkes £2 coin listed on eBay for an eye-watering £2,000,000.