New 50p coin released marking 75th Windrush anniversary
The Royal Mint has released its new commemorative 50p coin to mark the 75th anniversary of HMT Empire Windrush in the UK.
Designed by Bristol-based artist Valda Jackson, the coin features the depiction of two black individuals standing against the backdrop of the Union Flag.
The Windrush generation are those who migrated to the UK from the Caribbean and Commonwealth between 1948 and 1973 to help rebuild the country after WW2.
Jackson expressed that the coin honours “our parents and their legacy.”
Having been born in St Thomas, Jamaica, Jackson moved to England in 1964. Her parents were among the generation invited to leave the Caribbean and come work in Britain.
While not all migrants of the Windrush generation arrived on the HMT Empire Windrush itself, the ship became a symbol of the broader mass migration movement. Many of those who came to the UK had served in the British armed forces during World War Two.
On 22 June 1948, the ship docked in Tilbury, Essex, marking its 75th anniversary this year.
Rebecca Morgan, the director of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint, expressed, “We’re honoured to be marking the 75th anniversary since the Windrush generation arrived in the UK.”
Three versions of the coin are available, all of which are available for sale today in anticipation of the anniversary on Thursday. There are two limited-edition coins in gold and silver, along with a standard metal coin similar to the legal tender 50p piece.