UK 50p celebrates 75 years of the NHS

2023 marks 75 years of our NHS, and to celebrate, a UK 50p has been issued.

2023 UK NHS 50p reverse and obverse
2023 UK NHS 50p reverse and obverse

This coin may look familiar, and that’s because it featured in the 2023 Annual Coin Set released earlier this year, but now you can finally own it individually!

A closer look

The 2023 UK NHS 50p represents the nation’s appreciation for NHS workers and services, with an original design by Alice Lediard. The reverse design features key words associated with the NHS such as dedication, hope, support and compassion. The words ‘National Health Service 75’ can also be seen highlighted in the centre of the coin.

2023 UK NHS 50p Reverse
2023 UK NHS 50p Reverse

What’s more, The Royal Mint are donating 100% of the profit made from these coins to NHS Charities Together. Over 230 NHS Charities across the UK provide additional support and resources for both staff and patients.

What better way to say thank you for the last 75 years or service.

The nation’s service

Since it was established in 1948, the National Health Service has played a pivotal role in the lives of the British public. It provides millions of people with vital care and medical services. This was especially apparent in recent years during the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Minister of Health, Aneurin Bevan, on the first day of the NHS 5th July 1948
Minister of Health, Aneurin Bevan, on the first day of the NHS – 5th July 1948
University of Liverpool Faculty of Health & Life Sciences from Liverpool, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Numismatic history of the NHS

This isn’t the first time the NHS has been celebrated on a UK coin…

1998 50th Anniversary of the NHS 50p

In 1998, a UK 50p was released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the NHS.

The reverse design by David Cornell shows a pair of hands cupping rays of light along with the inscription ‘NHS FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY’.

1998 50th Anniversary of the NHS 50p
1998 50th Anniversary of the NHS 50p

2018 A-Z ‘N’ NHS 10p

2018 'N' NHS 10p
2018 ‘N’ NHS 10p

Almost 20 years later in 2018, the NHS 10p was released as part of the 26 coin A-Z 10p series.

The series celebrated all things British, so it’s no surprise that the NHS was chosen to represent the letter N. The reverse design shows a stethoscope wrapped around the letter N in the shape of a heart.

The A-Z 10ps have become some of the hardest UK circulation coins to find, with a mintage of only 304,000 per letter.


And that brings us to 2023 and the new 75th anniversary of the NHS 50p, which you can own in brilliant uncirculated quality.

Secure your 2023 UK 75 Years of the NHS Certified BU 50p

Your 2023 UK NHS 50p is presented in official Change Checker packaging so it’s safely preserved for generations to come. Secure yours here >>

Top 10 Places to find the King Charles III 50p

Since 4.9 million 50ps bearing the first portrait of King Charles III entered circulation last year, collectors have been on the lookout for His Majesty in their change.

We asked you to help us hunt down the first King Charles III 50p by entering your postcode into our map as soon as you found the new 50p. We’ve tracked the coin up and down the country, from Inverness to Penzance, but where in the UK are you most likely to find the King Charles III 50p?

Here are the top 10 places to find Charles in your Change…

10. North Wales (Llandudno)

1.9% of King Charles III 50ps were found in Llandudno (LL) postcodes.

Charles in your Change Map - North Wales
Charles in your Change Map – North Wales

9. Glasgow

1.9% of King Charles III 50ps were found in Glasgow (G) postcodes.

Charles in your Change Map - Glasgow
Charles in your Change Map – Glasgow

8. Birmingham

1.9% of King Charles III 50ps were found in Birmingham (B) postcodes.

Charles in your Change Map - Birmingham
Charles in your Change Map – Birmingham

7. Oxford

2.2% of King Charles III 50ps were found in Oxford (OX) postcodes.

Charles in your Change Map - Oxford
Charles in your Change Map – Oxford

6. Derby

2.2% of King Charles III 50ps were found in Derby (DE) postcodes.

Charles in your Change Map - Derby
Charles in your Change Map – Derby

5. Newport

2.5% of King Charles III 50ps were found in Newport (NP) postcodes.

Charles in your Change Map - Newport
Charles in your Change Map – Newport

4. Stoke on Trent

2.8% of King Charles III 50ps were found in Stoke on Trent (ST) postcodes.

Charles in your Change Map - Stoke on Trent
Charles in your Change Map – Stoke on Trent

3. Nottingham

2.87% of King Charles III 50ps were found in Nottingham (NG) postcodes.

Charles in your Change Map - Nottingham
Charles in your Change Map – Nottingham

2. Northern Ireland (Belfast)

2.9% of King Charles III 50ps were found in Belfast (BT) postcodes.

Charles in your Change Map - Belfast
Charles in your Change Map – Belfast

1. Newcastle Upon Tyne

3.2% of King Charles III 50ps were found in Newcastle Upon Tyne (NE) postcodes.

Charles in your Change Map - Newcastle Upon Tyne
Charles in your Change Map – Newcastle Upon Tyne

Not forgetting London…

An honourable mention goes to Greater London which had 16 entries across 8 postcodes (making up a whopping 5.1% of all KCIII 50ps found).

Do you live in one of these areas? If so, you’re highly likely to come across a King Charles III 50p in your change. You can view the Charles in your Change map in full to check your own area here >>

Make sure you’re using cash where possible to maximise your chances, and who knows, maybe you’ll find other commemorative coins along the way.

Yet to find a King Charles III 50p?

If you’re yet to find a King Charles III 50p, you can secure one in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for your collection here >>

2021 Change Checker Awards NOW OPEN!

We’re delighted to announce the 2021 Change Checker Awards in association with All About Coins, where we’ll be celebrating the very best of the change collecting world from 2021!

We’re looking for the 2021 Change Checker of the Year and the 2021 Junior Change Checker of the year and we need your help!

Do you know somebody who deserves to be crowned ‘Change Checker of the year’? If so, we’d love to hear why.

Has someone you know completed an epic collection? Do you know somebody who’s gone above and beyond to help other Change Checkers complete their collections? Or have you been introduced to the world of change collecting by another Change Checker?

If you know someone who has been the perfect Change Checker, we want to hear from you.

*** UPDATE ***

Submissions for Change Checker and Junior Change Checker of the Year have now closed.

vector silhouette boy girl white background 47382423 - 2017 Change Checker Awards

All entries will be judged by our panel and the results announced on Monday 13th December. Please see terms and conditions.

The victorious Change Checker and Junior Change Checker of the year will each win an exclusive Change Checker trophy and a bundle of goodies worth more than £50, including a year’s subscription to Coin Collector magazine!

  • Coin Story of the Year 2021 – chosen by our panel.
  • UK Coin Design of the Year 2021 – judged by you.

UK Coin Design of the Year 2021

We’ve been asking you to vote for your favourite 50p, £2, and £5 coin design of the year! The votes are now closed. Stay tuned to find out which Coin Design came out on top on Monday 13th December.


The winners for all Change Checker Award categories will be announced on the 13th December.

Good Luck!


Terms and Conditions

  • The winners will receive an exclusive Change Checker trophy and a bundle of goodies, as well as a year’s subscription to Coin Collector magazine. There is no cash alternative.
  • Participants agree to meet reasonable requests to assist publicity.
  • The Change Checker Awards 2021 are promoted by The Westminster Collection / Change Checker, trading divisions of 288 Group Ltd.
  • Employees of 288 Group and their families are not eligible to enter.
  • The judges’ decision will be final and no explanation, correspondence or discussion will be offered or entered into before or following the judges’ decision.

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