John Mills and the Dove of Peace
By Coinsanduk | Tuesday, 13 May 2025
For the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe) on May 8, 1945, the Royal Mint released a new 50 Pence coin.
The coin features a version of John Mills dove of peace. Mills first accepted design was the 50 Pence Normandy Landings on D-Day coin in 1994.
The dove and olive branch was used symbolically by early Christians and then eventually became a secular peace symbol, popularized by a Dove lithograph by Pablo Picasso after World War II.
The dove of peace was also used for the 2 Pounds 1995, issued for the 50th anniversary of the End of World War II.
On the reverse was also added the words IN PEACE GOODWILL as written by Winston Churchill.
In War: Resolution,
In Defeat: Defiance,
In Victory: Magnanimity
In Peace: Good Will.
- Winston Churchill, History of the Second World War book series
In 2020, the Royal Mint introduced a coin to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. Produced in collaboration with Imperial War Museums, the design by Dominique Evans captured the event by putting people on the coin.
Silver, silver piedfort, gold versions of the VE Day coin were also made.
Cupro-nickel coin specifications
- Composition: 75% copper and 25% nickel
- Weight: 8 g
- Diameter: 27.3 mm
- Obverse: Martin Jennings
- Reverse: John Mills
- Legend: CHARLES · III · D· G · REX · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2025 · / IN PEACE GOODWILL VE DAY 8 MAY 1945
Several countries observe public holidays on the day each year, also called Victory Over Fascism Day, Liberation Day, or Victory Day. In the UK, it is often abbreviated to VE Day, a term which existed as early as September 1944, in anticipation of victory.
In 1995 and 2020, the early May bank holiday was moved by the government from the preceding Monday to 8 May to commemorate the 50th and 75th anniversaries of VE Day, respectively.
