Skip to content

Veterans unveil coin to mark 80 years since VE Day

Eleri Griffiths
BBC News
The Royal Mint Richard Pelzer and Ron Horsey holding the new VE Day 50p coin at the Royal Mint manufacturing site in South Wales. Both are wearing suits with their war medals on show. Richard is sat in his wheelchair and Ron is standing up. The Royal Mint
Richard Pelzer (left) and Ron Horsey (right), from Swansea, were among the first to strike the new VE Day coins

New commemorative VE Day coins are set to be released to mark 80 years since the end of the World War Two.

The 50p design features a dove of peace and the inscription "in peace goodwill", which was originally seen on a 1995 commemorative £2 coin.

The coin will be available from Thursday, while a special gold version will be struck on 8 May, the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

Veterans Ron Horsey, 98, and Richard Pelzer, 101, from Swansea, were invited by the Royal Mint to strike one of the first coins and described the experience as deeply meaningful.

The pair, who served with the Royal Engineers, also had a behind-the-scenes tour of the manufacturing site in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Mr Horsey said it was an "incredibly proud" feeling to have been invited as VE Day "holds such meaning for me and many others".

He added: "To be able to strike this design representing peace on to a coin all these years later is truly moving.

"I hope this coin reminds people of the freedom we enjoy today and the cost at which it came."

The Royal Mint The new 50p VE Day coin. At the bottom of the coin in bold writing is 'VE Day 8 May 1945'.The Royal Mint
The VE Day design features a dove of peace and the inscription "in peace goodwill"

The Royal Mint has a tradition of marking significant events in history, with previous releases including the Red Arrows 50p, the Stories of the Second World War 50p, and the 80th Anniversary of D-Day 50p.

Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint, said: "The VE Day coin pays tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of the generation who secured peace in Europe in May 1945 and it was fitting to welcome Ron and Richard to strike one of the first coins."

Prices for the new VE Day 50p coin start at £14.50 for the uncirculated version, rising to £1,725 for the limited gold edition.

A special 10-coin anniversary set will also be available for £1,640.