Dorset fossil hunter celebrated in coin collection
Palaeontologist Mary Anning's discoveries feature on new 50p coins.
Dorset fossil hunter and palaeontologist Mary Anning is being celebrated in a new commemorative coin collection from the Royal Mint, in collaboration with the Natural History Museum.
The first release in the Mary Anning 50p coin collection features temnodontosaurus, a large-jawed predator which once roamed the ocean.
She was born in Lyme Regis in 1799 and spent her life in the town.
Clare Maclennan, divisional director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said: "It is an absolute pleasure to continue the popular Tales of the Earth commemorative 50p coin series in conjunction with the Natural History Museum.
"The next collection in the series celebrates fossil hunter and pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning, with three coin's featuring Anning's astonishing discoveries of temnodontosaurus, plesiosaurus and dimorphodon.
"In addition to each of the coin designs being a scientifically accurate reconstruction of the creatures and the environment they lived in, we have combined augmented reality technology with the coins to bring the animals to life through animation and allow people to explore the details of the prehistoric marine reptiles from the comfort of their home.''
Despite her extraordinary discoveries, Anning's achievements were often overlooked by a scientific world dominated by men
Her father Richard had a large family to support and, in order to supplement his modest income as a carpenter, he set up a curiosity table outside their home selling fossils to tourists.
She developed an interest in helping her father and amongst the curiosities they discovered were "snake stones'' (ammonites), "devil fingers'' (belemites) and "verteberries'' (vertebrae).
Aged around 12, Anning discovered an articulated skeleton of an ichthyosaur, a type of marine reptile, sometimes nicknamed a "fish lizard'', that once lived in the Jurassic seas.
Anning died at the age of 47.
Kate Winslet recently played Anning in the film Ammonite.
Paleo-artist Robert Nicholls designed the new coins. The characteristics of the prehistoric creatures appear dynamic using the latest colour printing techniques.
Clare Matterson, executive director of engagement at the Natural History Museum, said: "The Mary Anning collection celebrates a pivotal figure in the understanding of palaeontology, important contributions to science that were rarely acknowledged in Mary's lifetime. It is fantastic to see Mary celebrated in such a special way in 2021.''
The coin is available to buy on the Royal Mint's website, with prices ranging from £10 for a brilliant uncirculated version and £20 for a colour version to £1,100 for a gold coin.