Prof Stephen Hawking commemorated on new 50p coin Published duration 12 March 2019

image copyright Getty Images image caption Prof Stephen Hawking died last March after decades as one of Britain's most recognisable scientists

Prof Stephen Hawking has been honoured on a new 50p coin inspired by his pioneering work on black holes.

The physicist died last year at the age of 76, having become one of the most renowned leaders in his field.

He joins an elite group of 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."

image copyright Royal Mint image caption Designer Edwina Ellis wanted to fit a black hole on to the coin

She said she wanted to reflect the way he "made difficult subjects accessible, engaging and relatable", in particular on black holes.

Prof Hawking's daughter Lucy visited the Royal Mint with her brother Tim to see the coins.

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."

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

He once told the BBC he thought his discovery that black holes were not entirely black would be his "greatest achievement".

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image copyright EPA image caption Stephen Hawking explained black holes in his best-seller A Brief History of Time

At the age of 22 Prof Hawking was given only a few years to live after being diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease.

The illness left him in a wheelchair and largely unable to speak except through a voice synthesiser, but he rose to serve as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University for 30 years.

After his death on 14 March 2018, crowds lined the streets to bid farewell.

People can buy the commemorative coins from the Royal Mint's website, with prices starting at £10 for a brilliant uncirculated version, climbing to £795 for a gold proof coin.