Stephen Hawking 50p: The Royal Mint honours the late physicist with new coin

13 March 2019, 16:47 | Updated: 13 March 2019, 16:51

Professor Stephen Hawking has been honoured with a special new 50p coin.

The legendary physicist's new coin is inspired by his pioneering work on black holes.

Hawking died last year at the age of 76, after become one of the most famous and respected leaders in his field.

Beatrix Potter coins: How many are there and how much are they worth?

He follows the likes of other scientists to have appeared on coins, including Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.

Designer Edwina Ellis said: "I wanted to fit a big black hole on the tiny coin and wish he was still here chortling at the thought."

Prof Hawking's daughter Lucy visited the Royal Mint with her brother Tim to see the coins first. She said: "It is a great privilege to be featured on a coin and I hope my father would be pleased to be alongside Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin as scientists who have made it on to money."

Stephen Hawking's greatest TV moments

Prof Hawking first explained black holes in his best-selling book A Brief History Of Time.

If you want to get your hands on the commemorative coins, you can do so from the Royal Mint's website, with prices starting at £10 for a 'brilliant uncirculated version', and rising to a whopping £795 for a gold proof coin.