Description

On 6 May 1954, 25-year old medical student Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile barrier, celebrated by this 50p issue. His time of 3mins 59.4 seconds was achieved at the Iffley Road track in Oxford and watched by around 3000 spectators. This 50p is unusual in the sense that it is very rare for the achievement of a living person to be celebrated on a coin. This coin was re-issued in 2019 as part of the 50th Anniversary of the 50p Celebrations. The 2019 version of this coin was a commemorative issue and did not enter general circulation.