The Royal Mint has launched a commermorative coin in honour of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. The new coin marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The VE Day 50p coin is designed with a dove of peace, the design which also originally appeared on a 1995 £2, as a mark of 50 years since the end of the war. 

The coin is inscribed with "In peace goodwill" and they available to purchase from the Royal Mint's website from 9am on Thursday and in a range of finishes, from brilliant uncirculated versions to silver and gold. On May 8, the anniversary of VE Day, the Mint will launch a special gold edition of the gold. 

Guests from the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans were invited to mark the launch of the new design. Veterans Ron Horsey, aged 88, and Richard Pelzer, 101, both from Swansea served with the Royal Engineers. The two guests where given a behind-the-scenes tour of the manufacturing site in South Wales and invited to participate in coin striking.

Mr Horsey said: "I'm incredibly proud to have been invited to the Royal Mint to strike this coin. VE Day holds such a meaning for me and many others, and to be able to strike this design representing peace on to a coin all these years later is truly moving.

"I hope this coin reminds people of the freedom we enjoy today and the cost at which it came."

The Taxi Charity formed in 1948 offers international trips to Holland, Belgium and France, day trips to concerts or museums, and transport to attend fundraising events and special days out for friends and comrades.

Dick Goodwin, vice president of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans described the visit to the Royal Mint visit as a "wonderful experience". 

Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint said: "The VE Day coin pays tribute to the courage, sacrifice and resellience of the generation who secure peace in Europe in May 1945 and it was fitting to welcome Ron and Richard to the site to strike one of the first coins."

It is part of tradition for the Mint to design coins that mark significant events in history, recent coins include a Red Arrows 50p, a Stories of the Second World War 50p, and an 80th Anniversary of D-Day 50p. 

Price for the new 50p will start from £14.50 for a brilliant uncirculated version to £1,725 for the special edition gold coin struck on May 8.