British Coins 50 Pence 1973 United Kingdom entry into the European Economic Community
United Kingdom's accession to the European Economic Community
This coin was issued in the year the UK joined the European Economic Community (EEC), one of the forerunners of the European Union (EU). Notice that the hands are not all the same. They represent different ages and genders.Obverse: Second crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, inscription ELIZABETH II∙D∙G∙REG∙F∙D starting top right.
Engraver: Arnold Machin
Reverse: The inscription "50 PENCE" and the date of the year 1973, surrounded by nine hands, symbolising the nine members of the Community, clasping one another in a mutual gesture of trust, assistance and friendship.
Designer: David Wynne.
Country: United Kingdom.
Year : 1973.
Value: 50 Pence.
Metal: Copper-nickel.
Weight: 13.5 g.
Diameter: 30 mm.
Thickness: 2.3 mm.
Shape: Equilaterally curved heptagon.
Demonetized: 02-28-1998.
References: KM# 918, Sp# H2.
Mintage: 89,775,000.
Issued in 1973 only. A cased Proof version was issued which is arguably more common than the uncirculated examples of the circulation issue. A few silver proofs on slightly thicker than normal blanks were struck for senior EEC Finance Ministers.
Accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities
The Accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities (EC) which was the collective term for the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC) took effect on 1 January 1973, after the ratification of the Accession treaty which was signed in Brussels on 22 January 1972 by the then Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath who had pursued the UK's application to the EEC since the late 1950s. Denmark and Ireland also joined as part of the same expansion but Norway, who had signed the same treaty, declined to ratify it and so it was amended to exclude them. The ECSC and EEC would later be integrated into the European Union under both the Maastricht and Lisbon treaties.
The UK had first applied to join back in 1961 but this was vetoed by French President Charles de Gaulle. The UK's negotiation team in 1970–72 included Con O'Neill and David Hannay.