In 2009 to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the first UK 50p Fifty Pence Coin, the Royal Mint released a very special Limited Issue EEC 50p Fifty Pence Silver Proof Coin Struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver Triple Dated.
The tradition continues in 1998 as the United Kingdom celebrates the 25th Anniversary of its entry into the European Economic Community and also its Presidency of the European Union during the first six months of 1988.
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.