What are the rarest circulating coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II? (2024)

Kew Gardens 50p and alphabet 10p coins are ones to look out for
A 50p Kew Gardens coin could fetch up to £168 on Ebay

By Helen Kirrane

Updated: 07:58 EDT, 15 December 2023

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The 2009 Kew Gardens 50p and a collection of alphabet 10p coins from 2018 and 2019 are some of the rarest circulating coins featuring the late Queen, the Royal Mint has revealed.

It says 2022 marked one of the biggest changes in coinage since decimalisation as we moved from the reign of Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III.

We look at the rarest coins to circulate under Queen Elizabeth II's reign and how much they might be worth...

Coveted: The Royal Mint has released a list of the rarest coins minted during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, including the fabled 2009 Kew Gardens 50p coin

2019 Alphabet A-Z 10p coins

These are a special set of A-Z ten pence coins celebrating Britain, ranging from the Angel of the North to Zebra crossings minted in 2019.

Letters Y, W and Z each had a low mintage of 63,000, the letter R had a mintage of 64,000 while the rest of the letters had a mintage of 84,000.

Ultra rare Kew Gardens 50p smashes its estimate at Royal... The new King Charles III coins that could be worth a mint...
I 'won' a halfpenny coin from an arcade 2p pusher machine -...

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The coins are rare. The varying designs appeal to many - Bond fans, tea lovers or NHS workers to name a few.

1992 Single Market 50p

This 50p coin was minted to celebrate the UK's presidency of the European Council of Ministers and the completion of the single market.

Just 109,000 were minted, the lowest number of 50p coins to be issued into circulation.

They are not in circulation any more, as they are the old-style heavier 50p coins.

On Ebay, the coins can be sold for up to £40 according to Change Checker's Ebay index.

Twice a year, Change checker takes the top ten coins and banknotes and work out their median selling price on the secondary market.

Just 109,999 single market 50p coins were minted in 1992, the lowest number of 50p coins to be issued into circulation

2009 Kew Gardens 50p

The much-fabled Kew Gardens 50p is one of the rarest circulating coins due to its scarcity in circulation and as a commemorative coin.

With just 210,000 minted in 2009, these coins can sell north of £150 and as such, the majority have been hoovered out of circulation and are in the hands of collectors.

The coin ranks number one on Change Checker's 50p scarcity index.

Change Checker's Ebay index puts the value of this coin at £148. This is down from £167 in January 2023.

Recently, a gold proof version of the Kew Gardens 50p coin sold for £6,800 at a Royal Mint online auction of 343 rare coins.

The rarest and most coveted coin is the 50p Kew Gardens coin, with 210,000 minted in 2009. They can sell for north of £150 on Ebay

2015 First World War Royal Navy £2

These coins pay tribute to the Royal Navy during World War II. They have a mintage of 650,000.

2015 Britannia £2

This £2 coin can fetch up to £10 on ebay according to Change Checker's Ebay index.

The coins are the first circulating £2 coins to feature Britannia and 650,000 of them were minted in 2015.

It ranks 14 on Change Checkers £2 scarcity index - being branded as 'less common.'

Antony Dufort's modern interpretation of Britannia was introduced in 2015 to Britain's highest denomination coin.

2002 Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games £2

This is the rarest £2 coin according to Change Checker and it can retail for up to £68 according to the Ebay index.

For the 2002 Commonwealth Games, held in Manchester, new £2 coins were minted to celebrate each home nation.

Only 485,500 Northern Ireland coins were minted, making it the most coveted - and today this coin sits at the top of Change Checker's scarcity index due to its incredibly low mintage.

The 2002 Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games £2 is the rarest £2 coin and can sell for as much as £68

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