50 Pence 2003 - Suffragettes
By Coinsanduk | Wednesday, 18 September 2024
On March 6, 2003, the Minister for Women, The Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt MP, officially launched a 50 pence coin produced commemorating the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU).
The coin's reverse design, by sculptor Mary Milner Dickens, depicts the figure of a suffragette chained to railings, holding a banner on which appear the letters WSPU. To the right a ballot paper marked with a cross and the words GIVE WOMEN THE VOTE, are featured alongside 50 PENCE and the anniversary dates 1903 and 2003.
The obverse design is the portrait of Her Majesty the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS, which has appeared on United Kingdom coinage starting in 1998.
Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters formed the WSPU on October 10, 1903. It quickly developed into a political machine based on the motto Deeds not Words. Its commitment to a controversial campaign of direct action was matched only by its flair for publicity. WSPU members became known as Suffragettes, and wore, whenever possible, the Union's colours: purple for dignity, white for purity and green for hope. Women over thirty achieved the vote in 1918. It was extended to all women over age 21 in 1928.
We are delighted to offer this coin to the public. The founding of the WSPU was a significant milestone in British political history. The coin reminds us of strides which have been made in women's rights since the Women's Suffrage movement began.
- Gerald Sheehan, Chief Executive of the Royal Mint
The Women's Social and Political Union achieved so much for the political rights and freedom of women in the UK, the new 50p coin is a fitting testament to its legacy. I am committed to getting more women involved in politics and public life because it will result in better and more inclusive policy making. That's why we changed the law to make it easier for women to stand for election at all levels.
I also want to encourage more women from different backgrounds to get on to the boards of our public bodies so that women have a true voice at the heart of decision-making.
- Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt MP, Minister for Women
It seems hard to believe that a hundred years ago women didn't even have the vote. But we haven't come as far as you might think. Of the 4,531 people who have been MPs since 1918, when women were first allowed to vote and stand for Parliament, just 252 (fewer than 6%) have been women.
I hope that a hundred years from now people will find it incredible that even at the beginning of the twenty-first century only 18% of MPs were women.
- Julie Mellor, Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)
The circulating version was be available from October 2003.
The coin, was also struck to Brilliant Uncirculated standard (a higher quality than standard circulating coins), and was available in an illustrated presentation folder, priced at £4.95. Limited editions in gold and silver were be minted in July.
