Rare 50p coins in circulation could be worth hundreds of pounds

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 05:59 · Archive

The Royal Mint has identified the rarest 50p designs in UK circulation, with some worth over £700 at auction.

The Royal Mint has shared details of the rarest 50p designs currently circulating across the UK. More than 70 variations of the seven-sided coin have entered circulation since decimalisation in 1971. The 50 pence piece is the largest British coin in circulation, with a diameter of 27.5mm providing space for commemorative artwork.

Collectors focus primarily on mintage figures, which show the total number of coins struck for each design. A coin's physical condition and the presence of any minting errors also affect resale value. Valuations vary depending on whether an owner sells directly through an online auction platform or consults a specialist coin dealer.

The Kew Gardens 50p, created in 2009 to mark the 250th anniversary of the botanic gardens, is among the most sought-after releases. Only 210,000 copies of the Kew Gardens design were made, giving it an average resale price of £156.25 and peak auction sales above £700. Several designs produced for the 2011 London Olympic Games also rank high in value, including wrestling, football, judo and triathlon coins with mintages near 1.1 million each.

Beatrix Potter coins depicting Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny from 2018 had mintages of 1.4 million each and typically sell for around £5. In 2019, around 500 million coins entered production, including designs featuring Sherlock Holmes and Paddington Bear at St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London.

The lowest mintage on record belongs to the 2023 Atlantic Salmon design, with 200,000 coins produced. Kew Gardens from 2009 ranks second with 210,000 coins. Checking your change could reveal a 50p worth checking at specialist dealers or online auction platforms.

How it is being reported

• Could a rare 50p be hiding in your pocket? Some are worth hundredsThe Royal Mint has revealed the 10 rarest 50p coins in UK circulation, from the 2023 Atlantic Salmon to the 2009 Kew Gardens design.Whitehaven News · 18 Oct, 05:00
• Could a rare 50p be hiding in your pocket? Some are worth hundredsThe Royal Mint has revealed the 10 rarest 50p coins in UK circulation, from the 2023 Atlantic Salmon to the 2009 Kew Gardens design.NW Evening Mail · 18 Oct, 05:00
• Could a rare 50p be hiding in your pocket? Some are worth hundredsThe Royal Mint has revealed the 10 rarest 50p coins in UK circulation, from the 2023 Atlantic Salmon to the 2009 Kew Gardens design.Westmorland Gazette · 18 Oct, 05:00
• Could a rare 50p be hiding in your pocket? Some are worth hundredsThe Royal Mint has revealed the 10 rarest 50p coins in UK circulation, from the 2023 Atlantic Salmon to the 2009 Kew Gardens design.Cumberland News · 18 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Royal Mint · Kew Gardens · London · Beatrix Potter · St Paul's Cathedral · Tower of London

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