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The British decimal fifty pence (50p) coin – often pronounced ''fifty pee'' – is a unit of currency equaling one half of a pound sterling. It is a seven-sided coin formed as an equilateral curve heptagon,〔(The seven sides of a UK 50p Coin )〕 a curve of constant width, meaning that the diameter is constant across any bisection. Its obverse has featured the profile of Queen Elizabeth II since the coin’s introduction in 1969. Three different portraits of the Queen have been used, with the latest design by Ian Rank-Broadley being introduced in 1998. The second and current reverse, featuring a segment of the Royal Shield, was introduced in 2008. Twenty pence and fifty pence coins are legal tender only up to the sum of £10; this means that it is permissible to refuse payment of sums greater than this amount in 20p and 50p coins in order to settle a debt.〔(Royal Mint Frequently Asked Questions )〕 As of March 2013 there were an estimated 920 million 50p coins in circulation with an estimated face value of £459.617 million.〔(Estimated Coins in Circulation ), Royal Mint〕 == Design == The original reverse of the coin, designed by Christopher Ironside, and used from 1969 to 2008, is a seated Britannia alongside a lion, accompanied by either NEW PENCE (1969–1982) or FIFTY PENCE above Britannia, with the numeral 50 underneath the seated figure. To date, three different obverses have been used. In all cases, the inscription is , where 2013 is replaced by the year of minting; the Benjamin Britten coin (2013) additionally has the denomination, , on the obverse, before the year. As with all new decimal currency, until 1984 the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin appeared on the obverse, in which the Queen wears the 'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland' Tiara. Between 1985 and 1997 the portrait by Raphael Maklouf was used,〔 in which the Queen wears the George IV State Diadem. In 1997 the 50p coin was reduced in size and the older coins were removed from circulation. The design remained unchanged.〔http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/60585.stm〕 From 1998 to 2015 the portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley has been used,〔 again featuring the tiara, with a signature-mark below the portrait. As of June 2015, coins bearing the portrait by Jody Clark have been seen in circulation. In August 2005 the Royal Mint launched a competition to find new reverse designs for all circulating coins apart from the £2 coin.〔("Royal Mint seeks new coin designs" ), BBC News, 17 August 2005〕 The winner, announced in April 2008, was Matthew Dent, whose designs were gradually introduced into the circulating British coinage from mid-2008.〔("Royal Mint unveils new UK coins" ), 2 April 2008〕 The designs for the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p coins depict sections of the Royal Shield that form the whole shield when placed together. The shield in its entirety is featured on the £1 coin. The 50p coin depicts the lowest point of the Royal Shield, with the words FIFTY PENCE below the point of the shield. The coin's obverse remains unchanged. It should be noted that this coin is an example of a shape of constant width. Shapes of constant width are shapes that have constant width but are not circular.〔("Mathematical Explorations with MATLAB" ), Google Books, 31 January 2014〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Fifty pence (British coin)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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