2023 Star Wars R2-D2 And C-3PO Fifty Pence Gold Proof Coin
Product Gallery
Gold proof Star Wars R2D2 and C3PO 50p coin in the original Royal Mint packaging.
Obverse
King Charles III, facing to the left. Designed by Martin Jennings. Lettering: 'CHARLES III · D · G · REX F · D · 50 PENCE · 2023 ·'.
Reverse
C-3PO and R2-D2 beside each other in the Millennium Falcon, with a lenticular above them and 'STAR WARS' below. Official design by Lucasfilm Limited.
Specification
Proof coin, struck in 15.50 grams of 22 carat gold. Diameter: 27.30 millimetres. Face value: 50p / Fifty Pence.
Presentation
Limited edition coin from The Royal Mint. Issued in its original packaging, with 200 coins authorised in this presentation.
Royal Mint Star Wars Coins
The Royal Mint has previously released coin series based on multimedia franchises, most notably the Harry Potter '25 Years of Magic' collection, the Beatrix Potter series and the Winnie the Pooh coins. Adding to the collectibility of these forthcoming Star Wars coins are the four different designs to collect and the lower issue limits when compared to previous Royal Mint coin collections.
Star Wars is a first for the Royal Mint in that they've commissioned a series which isn't distinctively British, but we anticipate this exciting venture will prove popular given the success of other Royal Mint collections.
Many editions in this highly anticipated series also have very low edition presentation limits, particularly the gold proof coins. If you're looking for a bigger coin to appreciate the engraving work of R2-D2 and C-3PO then the 5oz silver proof will be the perfect choice, and if you would rather have a more eye-catching coin the coloured silver proof Fifty pence is an excellent option.
These coins aren't the first Star Wars products manufactured and marketed by The Royal Mint. In 2019, they sold BU Star Wars medallions in cupro-nickel housed in an informative display folder, alongside a set of official stamps from the Royal Mail. However, they weren't officially coins and didn't carry a monetary value.
Star Wars Coin Collection
A wide range of different coin types are available in this exciting Royal Mint series. Proof editions in gold and silver can be purchased as well as a brilliant uncirculated Fifty Pence, giving collectors of all budgets ample choice to select from.
Character duos are the theme of these highly collectable coins, with the first edition showing the comical droid pairing of R2-D2 and C-3PO. Other duos which are depicted in this highly anticipated coin series are the antagonist Sith lords of Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, heroic twins Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia and the thorns to the Empire forces, Han Solo and Chewbacca.
The R2-D2 and C-3PO Star Wars coins are available in the following metals and finishes:
| Star Wars Coin | Edition Limit | Our Price |
| 50p Gold Proof R2-D2 and C-3PO | 200 | £1,220.00 |
| 50p Silver Proof R2-D2 and C-3PO | 12,500 | £70.00 |
| 50p BU Base Metal R2-D2 and C-3PO | Unlimited | £11.00 |
| 1oz Gold Proof £100 R2-D2 and C-3PO | 250 | £2,770.00 |
| 1/4oz Gold Proof £25 R2-D2 and C-3PO | 500 | £750.00 |
| 5oz Silver Proof £10 R2-D2 and C-3PO | 350 | £0.00 |
| 2oz Silver Proof £5 R2-D2 and C-3PO | 750 | £0.00 |
| 1oz Silver Proof £2 R2-D2 and C-3PO | 3,000 | £102.50 |
What Star Wars Movies Are There?
The Star Wars series has become a cultural phenomenon since its inception in 1977. Inspired by filmmaker George Lucas, it evolved from the eponymous 1977 film to become a multi-billion dollar media franchise, including video games, novels, animated television series and theme park attractions.
A total of eleven films have been released so far in the Star Wars franchise, with more in the pipeline. Astonishingly, all nine films in the 'Skywalker Saga' were nominated for Academy Awards, with 'Episode IV' and 'Episode V' taking several wins respectively. A full list of the films released so far is shown below:
- Episode IV: A New Hope - 1977
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back - 1980
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi - 1983
- Episode I: The Phantom Menace - 1999
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones - 2002
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - 2005
- Episode VII: The Force Awakens - 2015
- Episode VIII: The Last Jedi - 2017
- Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker - 2019
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - 2016
- Solo: A Star Wars Story - 2018
Altogether, the Star Wars multimedia franchise has garnered over $51.8 billion in revenue (£40.75 billion) around cinema, merchandise, home entertainment, video games and book sales, making it one of the most financially successful brands in history.
What Droids Are On The Star Wars Coins?
These coins are some of the very few Royal Mint coins to feature an officially licensed design on the reverse (tails) side. It's authorised by Lucasfilm Ltd, the company holding the trademark behind R2-D2 and C-3P0, showing the sci-fi droids side-by-side inside the Millennium Falcon.
A disturbance in the Mint: 2023 Star Wars coins from the UK's Royal Mint feature a special lenticular security image which alternately shows the planet Tatooine and the Rebel Alliance Starbird depending on the angle the coin is viewed.
In the Star Wars space opera, a 'droid' is a robot possessing some degree of artificial intelligence. C-3PO is a protocol droid who mainly specialises in aiding communication, being able to speak fluently in over six million languages. On the other hand, R2-D2 is an astromech droid, being generally used for the repair and maintenance of spacecraft. British actors Kenny Baker and Anthony Daniels originally played R2-D2 and C-3PO respectively.
George Lucas Star Wars Producer
George Lucas is one of the most celebrated film writers and producers of all time, as well as being one of the one financially successful. As well as being the inspiration behind the Star Wars collection, he was also responsible for the Indiana Jones franchise as well as the American Graffiti and THX 1138 films.
He set up his own production company, Lucasfilm Limited, in 1971. 41 years later and several highly successful film franchises later, he sold the company to The Walt Disney Company in a $4.05 billion deal, bringing his official filmmaking career to an end. A new trilogy of Star Wars films was procured as a result of this move, enabling another generation to be enthralled by the stories long ago in a galaxy far, far away. Today, Lucas still contributes to certain film productions in a consultative role.
Sell Star Wars Coins
If you're looking to sell your Star Wars coins then look no further than The Britannia Coin Company. We're coin experts and will pay fair, competitive prices for your coins. Head over to our 'Sell Your Coins' page for more information or you're more than welcome to get in contact with us for a friendly conversation. You can even pop into our showroom in Royal Wootton Bassett during working hours - no appointment required.
Frequently Asked Questions
There's four different designs in The Royal Mint's Star Wars Collection, with each design being available in eight different coins. This gives a total of 32 coins.
The reverse (tails) designs on The Royal Mint's Star Wars coins are R2-D2 and C-3PO, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, and Han Solo and Chewbacca.
Certain proof editions of the UK Star Wars coins are likely to prove particularly rare because they have very low issue limits. This is the case for the gold proof coins and the larger silver proof coins.
Royal Mint Star Wars coins from the UK are approved and licensed by Lucasfilm Ltd and are official Star Wars™ collectables.
All the 2023 UK Star Wars coins will have Martin Jennings' portrait of King Charles III on the obverse (heads) side.
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