© The Royal Mint, 2023
© The Royal Mint, 2023
50 Pence - Charles III Windrush Generation; Silver Proof
2023 year| Silver (.925) | 8 g | 27.3 mm |
| Issuer | United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| King | Charles III (2022-date) |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
| Year | 2023 |
| Value | 50 Pence 0.50 GBP = USD 0.65 |
| Currency | Pound sterling (decimalized, 1971-date) |
| Composition | Silver (.925) |
| Weight | 8 g |
| Diameter | 27.3 mm |
| Shape | Equilateral curve heptagon (7-sided) |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#351633 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 91% |
Reverse
A depiction of a Caribbean man and a woman set against a Union flag accompanied by the number 75 and the inscription.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
75
VJ
WINDRUSH GENERATION
Designer: Valda Jackson
Edge
Plain
Comment
This coin was issued as part of the Annual Silver Proof set for 2023 (issue limit 650). The design was also struck in copper-nickel, copper-nickel colour, silver proof colour, silver piedfort, silver piedfort colour and gold proof.© The Royal Mint, 2023
On 21st June 1948, a ship called HMT Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury in Essex after arriving from Jamaica. It carried 1,027 passengers, 802 of which were British subjects, including men, women and children, who gave their last country of residence as somewhere in the Caribbean, travelling to the United Kingdom hoping to start a new life. Marking the date of disembarkation, Windrush Day takes place on 22 June each year.
Whilst it was not the first ship to transport British Caribbean passengers to the country following the Second World War, many of the people on board were UK ex-service personnel. These people sought work in the ‘mother country’, as the war had left the UK with a significant labour shortage and a decimated economy. By 1961, the national population census recorded 161,000 Caribbean-born people were living in England and Wales.
Windrush garnered much attention upon its arrival and has since become symbolic for many of the Caribbean communities who, alongside numerous Commonwealth citizens, arrived in the UK between 1948 and 1973. They played a pivotal role in rebuilding the UK after the Second World War, as well as shaping modern British culture and society.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the 50p coin commemorating the Windrush Generation is that it features a design by British artist and sculptor, Yinka Shonibare CBE. Shonibare's design depicts a group of people from the Windrush Generation standing on the deck of a ship, symbolizing their journey from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom. The design also includes elements of traditional African textiles and symbols, highlighting the cultural heritage of the Windrush Generation. This coin is a unique and meaningful tribute to the contributions and experiences of the Windrush Generation, and it serves as a reminder of the important role that they have played in shaping British society.
