The Royal Mint in conjunction with the Natural History Museum launches its commemorative 50p Dinosauria collection – the first time a dinosaur has featured on an official UK coin. For more than 160 million years, dinosaurs roamed the Earth and these mighty creatures will now feature on their very own commemorative 50p coin.
The Dinosauria Collection is an exciting new series celebrating Britain’s contribution to the discovery of dinosaurs. The collection features each creature that led anatomist Sir Richard Owen to his ground-breaking conclusion, and the series begins with Megalosaurus.
Naming a New Group of Animals
Renowned Anatomist Sir Richard Owen, was the first to discover that the remains of Megalosaurus, Iguanodon and Hylaeosaurus all shared common characteristics. He then named this new group of animals ‘Dinosauria’ in a paper published in 1842. From this point the interest and fascination with these creatures grew and still continues to grow to this present day.
Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said, ‘We are thrilled to be working alongside the Natural History Museum to launch a new series of commemorative 50p coins featuring Megalosaurus, Iguanodon and Hylaeosaurus. We begin the series with Megalosaurus, with the coin’s design being a scientifically accurate representation of the dinosaur and the environment it lived in.’
Clare Matterson CBE, Executive Director of Engagement at the Natural History Museum said, ‘We are delighted to see dinosaurs on commemorative coins and work alongside The Royal Mint. The story of the discovery of dinosaurs is fascinating and particularly relevant for the Natural History Museum since Sir Richard Owen, who coined the term dinosaur, was also our founder. The Dinosauria collection brings this story to life for modern day dinosaur enthusiasts everywhere.’
Bringing Dinosaurs Back to Life
Renowned British paleo-artist Robert Nicholls, with the expert guidance of Prof. Paul M. Barrett from the Earth Sciences Department of the Natural History Museum, has brought all three dinosaurs back to life. Robert has been creating natural history specimens for museums and universities around the world for more than 20 years. Based on current understanding and the expertise of leading palaeontologists at the Natural History Museum, the coin design is a scientifically accurate reconstruction of the dinosaur and the environment that it lived in. Augmented reality technology will also feature on the coloured brilliant uncirculated 50p coin allowing customers to access a range of exclusive content.
The Royal Mint Experience, based in South Wales, will be offering visitors the opportunity to strike their own Brilliant Uncirculated Megalosaurus 50p coin and will also have a range of dinosaur themed activities across February half-term, including a paleo-art workshop with the designer of the Dinosauria Collection, Robert Nicholls. Robert will demonstrate in the workshop how to draw a scientifically accurate image of a dinosaur – bringing these incredible creatures to life on paper. For more information on the events at The Royal Mint Experience visit this site.
To view the full Dinosauria Collection with all specs visit the website of the Royal Mint.
Here is a short video about the coin design.
Do you want to see a Megalosaurus in full action in today’s world? Here it comes:
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