Llantrisant, Wales – On a crisp spring morning, two World War II veterans, their hands steady despite their years, struck the first of a new 50p coin at the Royal Mint’s sprawling facility in South Wales. Ron Horsey, 98, and Richard Pelzer, 101, both from Swansea, stood shoulder to shoulder, their Royal Engineers service a distant but vivid memory. The coin they minted marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day—May 8, 1945—when the guns of war fell silent and celebrations erupted across a battered continent.
The new 50p, available for purchase starting May 1, carries a design that’s both simple and heavy with meaning: a dove of peace, wings spread, paired with the inscription “In peace goodwill.” It’s a nod to a 1995 £2 coin that marked the war’s 50th anniversary, now reimagined for a new generation. Come May 8, the Mint will release a limited gold edition—only 90 coins, each bearing an “80” privy mark to commemorate the milestone. These will set collectors back £1,750 a piece. For those with shallower pockets, the standard uncirculated version starts at £14.50, while a 10-coin anniversary set goes for £1,640.
Horsey, his voice thick with pride, called the moment “incredibly moving.” He spoke of VE Day’s weight—not just for him, but for the millions who lived through the war’s shadow. “This coin,” he said, “it’s a reminder of the freedom we’ve got, and what it cost.” Pelzer, at 101, nodded quietly, his medals glinting as he toured the Mint’s humming production lines. The veterans, guests of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, got a rare behind-the-scenes look at the Llantrisant site, where machines churn out coins and medals, including the Military Cross and George Cross, with surgical precision.
The Royal Mint, no stranger to capturing history in metal, has a knack for these kinds of tributes. Recent 50p releases have honored the Red Arrows, the D-Day landings, and stories from the Second World War. This VE Day coin, though, feels different—forged in the presence of men who saw the war’s end firsthand. The Mint’s director of commemorative coins, Rebecca Morgan, put it plainly: the coin honors the “courage, sacrifice, and resilience” of the generation that turned the tide in 1945.
The veterans’ visit wasn’t just ceremonial. They struck silver proof coins, their hands guided by Mint staff who explained the craft behind each piece. Dick Goodwin, vice president of the Taxi Charity, called the day “a wonderful experience,” praising the Mint for rolling out the red carpet for Horsey and Pelzer. For collectors, the coins are already sparking buzz, with the gold edition’s tiny mintage guaranteeing it’ll be a rare prize.
On May 8, 2025, as Britain and Europe mark 80 years since VE Day, these coins will circulate as small, tangible echoes of a world-changing moment. They’re not just currency—they’re history, pressed into metal by men who lived it.