2003 Fifty Pence Gold Proof - WSPU CentenaryThe year 2003 was the one hundredth anniversary of the formation by Emmeline Pankhurst of the Women's Social and Political Union, the militant wing of the women's suffrage movement. It eventually achieved complete success in 1928 when all women in Britain received the right to vote.Emmeline Pankhurst and a multitude of other women, including her daughter Christabel, were dedicated to obtaining equal rights for women, but the militancy of the Suffragettes alarmed members of Parliament and resulted in the imprisonment of many women. The outbreak of the first World War in 1914 halted their campaign and, ironically it was the crucial contribution women made to the war effort that gave them the success they deserved. Who among the Suffragettes could have seriously envisaged that before the end of the century there would have been a female Prime Minister? Today, women receive the same standard of education as men and just like men, may follow their ambitions and dreams. Their lives have changed dramatically and today women can now take advantage of the rights they have acquired by contributing fully to society in all its aspects. To celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the formation of the Women's Social and Political Union, the Royal Mint issued a limited number of commemorative gold proof 50p coins struck in 22 carat gold. The reverse design by Mary Milner Dickens features a Suffragette holding a placard in her left hand with the initials WSPU, and a scroll in her right hand which is positioned close a chain padlocked to railings, although it is not clear from the design whether she is chained to the railings. Further to her left, and our right, there is a poster with a large "X" in its top right hand corner, and "GIVE WOMEN THE VOTE" in four lines. The dates 1903 and 2003 also appear, as does the denominational value 50 PENCE, in two lines. Obverse - Fourth PortraitAll 2003 coins carried the fourth portrait obverse design by Ian Rank-Broadley.Specifications
Notes on TableIssue Price = Official Royal Mint issue price.Prices & Availability
You may wish to use our order form. Postage & PackingUK Registered Post (Special Delivery) £9 per orderEU Insured Post £10 per order USA Airmail $10, Insured Shipping $20 Canada Airmail $15, Insured Shipping $30 |
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Reverse of 2003 WSPU Centenary Fifty Pence Gold Proof
Obverse of 2003 Fifty Pence Gold Proof
2003 Gold Proof Fifty Pence in Presentation Box |
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