In 1998 to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community and also it's Presidency of the European Union during the first six months of 1988, the Royal Mint released a special Limited Issue 50p Fifty Pence Proof Coin.
The reverse design by John Mills features a celebratory pattern of the twelve stars of the European Union together with the dates 1973 and 1998.
The obverse bears the new effigy of Her Majesty the Queen by Ian Rank Broadley.
These legal tender coins have been struck to proof quality using specially prepared dies and highly polished blanks.