1992-1993 Dual Dated European Presidency Single Market Fifty Pence Silver Proof Coin

The title of ‘Presidency of the Council of European Community Ministers’ is an auspicious one. During the Council meeting, the minister from the country holding the presidency chairs the session, and has a certain degree of power to decide itineraries and media output. This presidency is rotated between the member states of the EU every six months. During the second half of 1992, this post was held by the United Kingdom. At the start of 1993, the Single European Market came into effect which allowed the freedom of movement for goods and people across member states. In honour of these two milestones, as well as twenty years since the UK’s entrance into the EEC, The Royal Mint released a commemorative silver proof Fifty Pence. This coin’s reverse was designed by Mary Milner Dickens, and features a conference table and twelve chairs for each of the Ministers. The chair at the head of the table is marked ‘UK’ in honour of the presidency. The European Community symbol of twelve stars are also depicted across the table, along with the dates 1992 and 1993. On the obverse is Raphael Maklouf’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the third such effigy to be used on circulating coinage. Struck in .925 sterling silver and weighing 8.00 grams, this 50p is one of 26,890 issued in this presentation. It comes in its original case with its certificate of authenticity.