This week, the main focus is on the Royal Mint celebrating 50 years since the launch of the 50p coin by revealing the rarest 50p coins ever made.
The first 50p coin was introduced on 14 October 1969. Made in the shape of a heptagon, it was the world’s first seven-sided coin. The initial reaction to it was mixed – one newspaper at the time called it “a monstrous piece of metal”.
The coin was introduced as part of a process called decimalisation. This is when a currency is changed to be based around multiples of 10 or 100.
Students will learn all about this history.
This PDF resource includes this article, as well as accompanying activity ideas:
- Debate whether it’s time to get rid of physical currency for good and become a cashless society
- Write a persuasive article proposing a famous person or special event that you think should be commemorated on a 50p coin
- Using ‘Halfway Down’ by AA Milne, rewrite that poem about a 50p piece, as if it is a child’s favourite coin
- Research five other significant events from 1969, put them in order of importance (in your view) and give a brief, two- or three-sentence explanation of what happened for each
To find out more about The Week Junior and to download its free resources, please go to schools.theweekjunior.co.uk.
Find the whole range of free Topical Tuesday resources here.
