Royal Mint Debuts Pride Coin To Honor 50 Years Of LGBT+ Activism
Image via Royal Mint
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the UK’s largest and most diverse LGBT+ event, Pride in London, the British Royal Mint has announced a commemorative rainbow-hued 50p coin for the birthday, which it hails as a national milestone.
The seven-sided coin sports five rainbow arches with the words “protest,” “visibility,” “unity” and “equality” encircling the word “pride.”
A chevron with the colors black, brown, light blue, light pink, and white is seen at the base, referencing an updated Pride flag that acknowledges transgender people and marginalized LGBTQ+ people of color.
Image via Royal Mint
The special-edition 50p coin was designed by London-based tattoo artist and LGBTQIA+ activist Dominique Holmes, who’s also the founder of nonprofit SheHerTheyThem.
Holmes tells Dezeen that the hand-drawn qualities of the coin hark back to the handmade protest signs and placards streaming into the original Pride parades.
“Initially I had mixed feelings. Whilst I loved that The Royal Mint recognised this significant anniversary in LGBTQ+ culture, like many, I have become jaded by the amount of corporate pinkwashing that has derailed the important social and political drive behind Pride,” Holmes admits in a statement posted on Instagram. “But I could see that they were trying to work with the community to provide authentic allyship.”
“I created a design intended to inspire conversation around what Pride should represent. The prospect that it would land in the hands and pockets of millions across the UK seemed a great opportunity to open this conversation up to those outside our LGBTQ+ community,” they add.
The coin, minted in gold and silver editions, will not go into circulation, and will instead be sold on the Royal Mint’s website in the summer.
The Royal Mint has also pledged a donation to Pride in London in support of its cause.
We're proud to support #Pride! ðŸ³ï¸ðŸŒˆðŸ³ï¸âš§ï¸
— The Royal Mint (@RoyalMintUK) May 18, 2022
We are delighted to reveal a 50p designed by East London artist, writer, and LGBTQ+ activist, Dominique Holmes celebrating 50 years since the first UK Pride event! Sign up for launch updates: https://t.co/KVtO4nb6Tf pic.twitter.com/3BQl22hrmc
[via Dezeen and The Hill, images via Royal Mint]
