2013 Proof 50p Gold Coin Christopher Ironside Boxed

Christopher Ironside was a celebrated English painter and coin designer. His designs were used on many Royal Mint coins including the first decimal coins issued between 1969 and 1971.

Ironside died in 1992 but to mark 100 years since his birth, and his contribution to British coinage, the Royal Mint chose his previously-unused design of the Royal Arms as the reverse for this 2013 commemorative gold coin.

The Royal Arms bear the phrases "Honi soit qui mal y pense" which is French for "May he be shamed who thinks badly of it" and "Dieu et mon droit" which translates as "God and my right" - believed to be a reference to the long-held idea that royals have a divine right to rule.

On the opposite side, the obverse is Queen Elizabeth II's fourth portrait - produced by Ian Rank-Broadley.

The Royal Arms design was the runner-up to his Britannia design, used on the first 50p coins. Those original coins said NEW PENCE, but this practice has since been stopped and the modern proof version states FIFTY PENCE deliberately.

This 50p gold proof coin comes boxed with a certificate of authenticity.