The Royal Mint has released an official rainbow 50p coin to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pride

This year the UK celebrates 50 years since the first official Pride UK event in 1972. To mark the anniversary, The Royal Mint – the official coin mint for the UK – has released the first official LGBTQIA+ UK coinage: a rainbow Pride 50th anniversary 50p.

The artist behind the commemorative coin is Dominique Holmes, an east London-based multi-disciplinary writer, LGBTQIA+ activist and artist, whose output spans fine art and tattoo artistry. They are also the founder of SheHerTheyThem, a non-profit community building initiative for queer women and co-director of Forest Gayte Pride, a grassroots community organisation in East London.

Featured in rainbows on the 50p coin is Pride in London’s values of Protest, Visibility, Unity, and Equality, alongside the Pride flag colours representing people of colour and the trans community. A release explains: “With state-of-the-art colour printing technology, the iconic colours of the Pride progression flag are recreated with special-edition colour versions of the silver and BU coins.”

While the 50ps won’t be entering circulation, they will be available to purchase from The Royal Mint website this summer; the government-owned mint will be making a financial contribution to London LGBT Community Pride to mark the release. The range includes gold, silver, and brilliant uncirculated versions. You can find out more about the the 50th Anniversary of Pride 50p and register for updates via The Royal Mint website.

In a release, Asad Shaykh, director of marketing and communications at Pride in London, says: “It humbles me greatly that the words that I coined for the brand, Protest, Visibility, Unity & Equality – will be on an actual coin, opposite the Queen. This queer brown immigrant has come a long way, powered by hope, love and this city. Nowhere in the world had this been possible, except the UK. Pride in London feels very proud today.”