The reverse design, by David Cornell, reflects the hopes and aspirations of the NHS at its inception, symbolising as it does the dawn of a new and caring age. It shows a pair of hands holding a set of radiating lines with the words Fiftieth Anniversary, and the value 50. The letters NHS are repeated around the outer rim. The original authorised issue limit was only 1,500 pieces, but only 651 were actually minted and issued, presumably because of low demand at the time.