There are now over 35 different 50p coin designs in circulation and as an avid coin collector, there’s nothing better than finding a sought-after 50p in your change!
But with so many in circulation, how can you tell which are the ones to look for?
Luckily for you, we’ve done the leg work and compiled a number of resources to help you determine how rare your 50p is and how much it might be worth.
Mintages
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 coinand the harder it will be to find in circulation.
Here are the most up to date mintage charts for UK 50p coins in circulation, with the UK’s rarest circulation 50p, Kew Gardens sat in top spot with the lowest mintage figures – just 210,000 of this coin were struck!
The 2018 and 2019 Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny 50p coins hold joint second spot on the chart, as just 1,400,000 of each were issued for circulation! The 2020 Withdrawal from the EU 50p makes an entrance to our mintage chart alongside the 2020 Diversity Built Britain 50p, with mintages of 10,001,000 and 10,300,000 respectfully.
Click here to read more about the 50p mintage figures >>
eBay Tracker
Mintage figures are a great way to find out how many of your coin were released into circulation and therefore how difficult it might be to find, but this doesn’t necessarily give you a value for your coin. One way in which you can determine what your coin might be worth is to look at the prices it has sold for on eBay.
Again, we’ve made things easy for you by takingthe last 9 sold prices achieved on eBay and giving you the median price achieved (rounded to the nearest 50p). By taking the median, rather than an average, we avoid skewing created by one or two excessive prices achieved.
Here’s the top 10 highest selling UK circulation coins from our eBay Tracker, with Kew Gardens not surprisingly having the highest selling price,followed by the 1992/93 EEC 50p (the rarest 50p to have ever entered circulation!)
Click here to see our full eBay Tracker >>
Scarcity Index
To give you a complete picture of how your coin compares to other 50ps in circulation, we have combined the mintage information with two other key pieces of information to provide the Change Checker Scarcity Index:
- How many of each design are listed as “collected” by Change Checkers, indicating the relative ease of finding a particular coin.
- The number of times a design has been requested as a swap over the previous 3 months, showing the current level of collector demand.
Here’s our most recent Scarcity Index for 50p coins, with yet again Kew Gardens coming in on top as the most scarce 50p. Where does your50p rank on the Scarcity Index?
See the full Index here >>
So now you have access to a range of tools to help indicate how rare your 50p is and what it might be worth. Of course, these figures will change in time as the latest 50ps are released into circulation, so you never know, we could see the elusive Kew Gardens kicked off top spot one day!
Have you found any rare coins in your change recently? Let us know in the comments below.
If you’re interested in coin collecting, our Change Checker web app is completely free to use and allows users to:
– Find and identify the coins in their pocket
– Collect and track the coins they have
– Swap their spare coins with other Change Checkers
Sign up today at: www.changechecker.org/app
FAQs
The design of the coin, its condition and whether or not the coin is in circulation also affects how much it could be worth. You can easily figure out how rare a coin is, by checking its mintage figures. This relates to how many coins were produced by The Royal Mint.
What is the rarest 50p coin and how much is it worth? ›
Rarest 50p coins in circulation in the UK
The rarest is the Kew Garden 50p coin, which was designed to mark the 250th anniversary of the gardens in 2009. Only 210,000 coins were ever minted in this design. One seller received more than £700 for one when they sold it on eBay - but you can still buy them quite cheaply.
What is the value of a 50 pence 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.
How much is a 50p coin worth checker pride? ›
The circulation (CIRC) 50p is worth it's Face Value (FV) of fifty pence. The Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) 50 Years of Pride 50p was available from £4.95 on issue, in as new condition this BU 50p coin is worth about £3.
How to sell a rare 50p coin? ›
Consign Your Coins to Sell in a Royal Mint Auction. If you have a coin or coins you are looking to sell, an auction can often be the best way to find the right buyer.
How do I check if a coin is valuable? ›
Check for the Coin's Grade
Unless you are a professional who knows exactly how to identify valuable coins, your safest bet is to invest in coins marked and encapsulated by a reputable grading service like the NGC or PCGS. Knowing the coin's grade will help you predict what price it may command.
Is a 50 coin rare? ›
Kennedy half-dollar coins are not very rare and most of them are worth only their face value of 50 cents. However, some are more valuable, depending on the year they were minted and their condition. For example, a Kennedy half-dollar coin minted in 1970 and in uncirculated condition is worth about $8. F.V.
Why is a 1997 50p coin valuable? ›
No 50ps intended for circulation were struck to the old, larger specification in 1997. However, there were brilliant uncirculated and proof coins produced to the old larger specification for collectors. These can be seen in collectors sets like the 1997 UK Proof Set which includes an old-spec 50p and a new-design one.
Which 50p shield is rare? ›
In the years that the coin was issued, the mintage figures vary from just 1,800,000 all the way up to 49,001,000. By far the rarest 50p shield is the 2017 coin, which is actually the second rarest 50p coin in circulation!
How much is 50 pence in US dollars? ›
50 pence 2023 Without "Tudor Crown"
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|
| Period | King Charles III 2022 - 2024 |
| Coin type | Circulation coins |
| Denomination | 50 pence |
| Currency rate | 0.5 GBP = 0.63 USD |
10 more rowsThese coins often feature culturally significant characters and places, and are very popular. These proof 50p silver coins are prime examples of these coins, produced in precious metal silver rather than the base metal circulated coins. They are highly sought-after, and will make a fine addition to any collection.
What does a 50 pence coin look like? ›
Creation of the 50p Coin
While this design may have been traditional, the shape of the new 50p coin, an equilateral curve heptagon, was revolutionary. This made it easily distinguishable from round coins both by feel and by sight, while its constant breadth allowed it to roll into vending machines.
Which 50p is valuable? ›
The Royal Mint has revealed the most valuable 50p coin, ahead of the 1971 decimalisation's golden anniversary. The rarest 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.
Is the 50 Years of Pride 50p rare? ›
While its face value remains at 50p, the coin's worth in the collector's market is influenced by factors such as rarity, demand, and condition. With a circulation of only 5 million coins, the 50 Years of Pride 50p is considered relatively uncommon.
What was the last 50p with Queen Elizabeth? ›
The Hogwarts Express collectable coin is also the final individual 50p to have Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's portrait appear on the obverse (heads) side of the coin.
How can you tell if a 50 cent piece is worth money? ›
One is rarity. Pieces with minting mistakes or super low mint numbers are more valuable than those with a lot of examples. Another factor is condition. A coin in near mint condition will always be worth more than the same coin in rough shape.
What is the error on 50p coins worth money? ›
Error coins
210,000 of these coins entered circulation at the time of mintage, but according to The Royal Mint, these coins were removed from circulation when found by collectors- making it one of the most scarce 50p coins out there. This one has fetched between £300 to £700.
