Rare Atlantic Salmon 50p coin sells for £123 at auction

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 10:58 · Archive

A rare Atlantic Salmon 50p coin has sold for £123 after 37 bids on eBay, more than 200 times its face value.

A rare 50p coin has fetched £123 after an online auction on eBay, selling for more than 200 times its face value. The Atlantic Salmon piece drew 37 bids before being snapped up at that price. Released by the Royal Mint in 2023, only 200,000 copies of the coin were ever produced.

The coin celebrates British wildlife and the accession of King Charles III, depicting the Atlantic salmon as a priority conservation species in UK waters. The reverse features a leaping Atlantic salmon alongside the King Charles III royal cypher, while the obverse bears the official uncrowned portrait of King Charles III by Martin Jennings. It is officially ranked by the Royal Mint as the rarest 50p coin in active UK circulation, having ended the 15-year reign of the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p.

With just 200,000 released into banks and post offices, finding one in loose change remains exceptionally rare. The 50p piece has a heptagonal shape and a diameter of 27.5mm, making it the largest British coin in circulation and providing space for commemorative artwork.

Rarity serves as the primary factor driving collector demand and market prices. Low mintage figures mean fewer examples exist to buy or trade. Coin condition also plays an important role, with well-preserved specimens securing higher prices. Collectors also prize unusual design errors and striking flaws that escape the mint.

Sellers often turn to competitive online bidding on eBay to test market demand for rare coins. Others prefer formal valuations from professional coin dealers to establish a certified market value.

How it is being reported

• Rare 50p coin sells for £123 after 37-bid eBay auctionOnly 200,000 were released into banks and post offices, making it the rarest 50p in active UK circulationWestmorland Gazette · 15 Oct, 10:25
• Rare 50p coin sells for £123 after 37-bid eBay auctionOnly 200,000 were released into banks and post offices, making it the rarest 50p in active UK circulationWhitehaven News · 15 Oct, 10:25
• Rare 50p coin sells for £123 after 37-bid eBay auctionOnly 200,000 were released into banks and post offices, making it the rarest 50p in active UK circulationNW Evening Mail · 15 Oct, 10:25
• Rare 50p coin sells for £123 after 37-bid eBay auctionOnly 200,000 were released into banks and post offices, making it the rarest 50p in active UK circulationCumberland News · 15 Oct, 10:25

In this story: Royal Mint · King Charles III · Martin Jennings · eBay · UK

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