While this design may have been traditional, the shape of the new 50p coin, an equilateral curve heptagon, was revolutionary. The design on the reverse of the 50p coin features a symbol of Britannia that has appeared on our coinage since 1672. In October 1969, 50p coins joined the 5p (shilling) and 10p (florin) coins in circulation, leaving only the three copper coins - to be introduced on 15 February 1971 - to complete the new series of decimal coins.
