It’s worth checking your pockets and wallets after a 50p coin sold for 5,000 times its face value on eBay.
The coin, a 50p with King Charles' portrait on, sold for £2,500 and the coins are the second 50ps to enter circulation bearing Charles’official coin portrait.
The first were the memorial 50 pences, which entered circulation in December 2022, marking the transition from the late Queen to the King.
All 50p coins entering circulation will feature the King’s uncrowned portrait, the Royal Mint said, differing from the commemorative coronation coins that were unveiled earlier this year.
The 50p coin sold for £2,500 on eBay (Image: eBay)
The reverse (tails) design of the new 50p, created by Royal Mint coin designer Natasha Jenkins, features Westminster Abbey.
At the centre of the design is the King’s official cypher, representing him at Westminster Abbey being crowned King.
The obverse (heads) of the 50p features the King’s official coin portrait which was unveiled in September 2022 and is designed by sculptor Martin Jennings, as well as being personally approved by the King.
The reverse (tails) design of the new 50p features Westminster Abbey (Image: eBay)
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The rarest of the Royal Mint’s most valuable 50p coins is the Kew’s Garden 50p, which was designed to mark the 250th anniversary of the gardens in 2009. Only 210,000 coins were ever minted with this design.
The Kew Gardens 50p sells for £156.25 on average, but one seller received over £700 for one when they sold it on eBay.
Seven Olympic 50p coins from the 2012 Olympic Games feature in the Royal Mint’s top 10 most valuable 50p coins.
What makes a coin valuable?
The50 pence piecehas become the most valued and collected coin in the UK, with many collectable designs appearing on its heptagonal canvas.
Its 27.5mm diameter makes it the largest of any British coin, and allows space for decorative pictures. It has often been used to celebrate big events over the past 50 years of Britishhistory.
The rarest coins tend to be of the greatest value, with the mintage (number of coins with each design made) being the fundamental attraction for collectors.
Along with the design, other aspects of the coin which increase value are the condition of the coin and whether it has an error in its design.
The way in which it is sold can also determine the coin’s value - while some coin collectors will bid vast amounts of money on eBay or at auction, others opt for more robust valuations by selling via a coin dealer.
FAQs
It's worth checking your pockets and wallets after a 50p coin sold for 5,000 times its face value on eBay by a seller in Pershore, Worcestershire. The coin, a 50p with King Charles' portrait on, sold for £2,500 and the coins are the second 50ps to enter circulation bearing Charles' official coin portrait.
What are 50p coins worth? ›
How much are rare 50p coins worth? The famous 50p coin, Kew Gardens, sells for a few hundred pounds. Other rare 50p coins go for less impressive numbers, from a couple of pounds up to 20–30 pounds. There's a very rare 50p coin that can sell for thousands of pounds, but you're not likely to come across it.
Is the King Charles 50p worth anything? ›
In some cases, extremely rare 50p pieces have sold for a whopping £950. Since 2022, 50p coins featuring King Charles III have been widely circulated in Britain's economy - and some have become sought-after collectables now it seems.
What rare 50p sells for 2500? ›
AN extremely rare and sought-after 50p coin has been sold for £2,500 on online auction site eBay. After inspiring a mini-bidding war that attracted 33 bids, the gold-proof Kew Gardens 50p sold for 5,000 times its monetary value.
Why is a 1997 50p coin valuable? ›
The specification was changed for 1997 with the older, larger coins removed from circulation. Today, you are very unlikely to come across an old 50p in your change and if you did you would not be able to spend it in a shop. Since they can be hard to find, these pre-97 50ps are sought after by change collectors.
Where can I sell rare 50p coins? ›
The Royal Mint's regular auctions provide a great opportunity to offer your coins to a large buying audience. Selling in a Royal Mint auction can help make sure you get a fair price for your coins while being confident they are going to a good new home.
What is a 50p coin? ›
The British decimal fifty pence coin (often shortened to 50p in writing and speech) is a denomination of sterling coinage worth 1⁄2 of one pound. Its obverse has featured the profile of the current Monarch since the coin's introduction in 1969. As of October 2022, five different royal portraits have been used.
How do I know if my 50p is rare? ›
A sure fire way to know if you've found a keeper is to check the mintage figures for your 50p. Generally speaking, the lower the mintage, the rarer the coin and the harder it will be to find in circulation.
What is the rare King Charles coin? ›
This 50p coin features the likeness of King Charles III and is highly sought after by collectors. Its rarity and historical significance make it a valuable addition to any coin collection. The coin is made of high-quality materials and has been properly maintained to ensure its continued beauty and value.
How many Prince Charles 50p coins are there? ›
Post Office and bank branches throughout the country will receive 5 million 50p coins which feature a design produced by Royal Mint Coin Designer Natasha Jenkins to celebrate His Majesty's coronation earlier this year. This is the second 50p to enter circulation bearing His Majesty's official coin portrait.
The famous Kew Gardens 50p still holds its place as the rarest 50p coin in circulation today, 13 years after it was created. Its beautiful design celebrates the famous royal botanical garden with the iconic Chinese pagoda taking centre stage.
What is the rarest 2 pound coin? ›
There are an estimated 417 million 2-pound coins presently in circulation, representing 37 different designs. The rarest of these are the 2-pound coins minted in 2002 that celebrate the 2002 Commonwealth Games and bear the flag of Northern Island. Only 485,500 of these coins were ever minted.
What's the most valuable UK coin? ›
Value of the rarest coins in the UK
| Coin | Mintage | Approximate Value |
|---|
| 1917 George V Gold Sovereign | 1,014,714 (few remain) | £30,000 |
| 1937 Edward VIII Gold Sovereign | 6 | £1,000,000 |
| 1703 Queen Anne Vigo Five-Guineas | 20 | £845,000 |
| 1933 George V Penny | 7 | £86,400 |
2 more rowsThe famous Kew Gardens 50p coin remains the most coveted, with a mintage of 210,000. Other rare designs include the Olympic-themed 50 pence coins that were minted in 2011. Here, we take a look at the rarest 50p coins, as well as how much they could be worth.
Has a 50p coin soared to 2500 on eBay? ›
An extremely rare and sought-after 50p coin has been sold for £2,500 on eBay. The gold proof Kew Gardens 50p is a highly desirable coin, due to its scarcity in circulation and as a commemorative coin. A total of 629 Kew Garden gold proof 50p coins were minted in 2009.
Is a 1998 50p still legal tender? ›
Only 50p coins of the smaller format, dated 1997 to date are current legal tender. Specifications of the current 50p coin are shown at the bottom of this page.
Are 50 coins worth anything? ›
As you will discover, Kennedy fifty cent coins are quite common and inexpensive, but some can be worth a fortune depending on key dates and the coin's condition.
Why are some Benjamin Bunny 50p worth more than others? ›
"The 2017 Benjamin Bunny 50p is usually just worth face value unless you have a rare rotation error version." But there's one change that could be worth far more. "The error Benjamin Bunny coin has the Queen's head printed facing the wrong direction.
What can I do with old 50p coins? ›
The 50p, being half a pound, had the same value as the bank note (there used to be 20 shillings to the pound). The larger old 50p coins on this page have been demonetized and cannot be spent, but they can however be exchanged for current coins or paid into UK bank accounts.
