Red Arrows 50p (2025)
The Red Arrows 50p of 2025 celebrates sixty years since the RAF Aerobatic Team's first display in 1965, with three Hawk jets seen from below trailing smoke. It was sold only to collectors. It is one of the 172 50p designs struck since 1969.
Red Arrows 50p value
- Uncirculated
- typical £9, range £8 to £10
Worked out from 8 published prices (5 dealer prices, 2 sold-price reports and 1 price guide), each condition from its own prices, checked in September 2026.
The Red Arrows 50p was made only for collectors, so its price turns on format and condition. A coin in the original Royal Mint pack sells above one that is loose, in a capsule or in a third-party certified pack, and scratches or toning reduce it. The colour edition, with its red, white and blue trails and an issue limit, is priced apart from the plain coin. The silver, piedfort and gold proofs each form a separate market.
Red Arrows 50p mintage and rarity
The Red Arrows 50p was not issued for circulation, so it has no rarity rank.
How to spot a Red Arrows 50p
Three jets seen from underneath, flying close together and trailing smoke, identify the Red Arrows 50p, along with the words RED ARROWS and the initials TD. The aircraft are the team's Hawk T1s. On the colour edition the smoke trails are printed red, white and blue, while the standard coin is plain cupro-nickel. King Charles III is on the obverse, and no version was issued for circulation, so every example began in a pack, a set or a proof case.
Known varieties of the Red Arrows 50p, all listed among the UK error coins and varieties:
- Colour edition: A colour-printed brilliant uncirculated edition with red, white and blue trails, with an issue limit of 12,500.
Red Arrows 50p design
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, better known as the Red Arrows, was formed in 1964 and flew its first public display in 1965. Since then it has become a regular fixture at airshows in Britain and abroad. This coin marked the team's sixtieth anniversary. Graphic designer Nigel Tudman of Tuch Design created the reverse, looking up at the underside of three BAE Systems Hawk T1 jets, one leading at the top and two lower down on either side, each trailing the smoke used in the team's displays. RED ARROWS is lettered in large capitals across the lower half, with the initials TD at the bottom right. The coin was first issued in the 2025 annual sets and went on sale singly from 6 February 2025. A colour edition with red, white and blue trails followed, along with silver, silver piedfort and gold proofs. Martin Jennings modelled the King's portrait on the obverse.
Red Arrows 50p specifications
- Denomination
- 50p
- Year
- 2025
- Type
- Commemorative
- Issue
- Not issued for circulation
- Occasion
- 60 years since the Red Arrows' first display in 1965
- Designer
- Nigel Tudman (Tuch Design)
- Composition
- Cupro-nickel
- Weight
- 8 g
- Diameter
- 27.3 mm
- Shape
- Seven-sided
- Edge
- Plain
- Obverse
- Charles III, first portrait by Martin Jennings
Red Arrows 50p questions
Was the Red Arrows 50p released into circulation?
No. It first appeared in the 2025 annual coin sets and was then sold singly as a brilliant uncirculated coin, a colour edition and proofs. None were put into change.
What planes are on the Red Arrows 50p?
Three BAE Systems Hawk T1 jets, the aircraft the Red Arrows have flown since the 1980 display season, shown from underneath with their display smoke trailing behind.
Who designed the Red Arrows 50p?
Nigel Tudman of Tuch Design created the reverse, and the initials TD on the coin belong to Tuch Design.