A RARE coin enthusiast has revealed how a unique date on your 50p coin could make it a whopping 500 times more valuable.
The coin was released to commemorate the 2012 Olympics and there are several in circulation – could you have one in your wallet?
A 50p coin minted in 2009 is worth around £250 and has coin hunters searching the high heavens to try and get their hands on it.
TikTok coin expert @CoinCollectingWizard drew attention to the treasure in a recent video, advising: “Just because you have this 50p, it doesn’t make it valuable.
“Always pay attention to the details on what to look for.”
He added: “Collectors are eager to snap up this piece of history and its connection to a beloved children’s TV show adds a personal touch to its value for many.”
He also explained: “The rare coin features a picture showing an athlete in the 2012 London Olympics as drawn and depicted by the young viewer back in 2009.”
The collector noted that an earlier version of the coin was minted in 2009 and it’s far more valuable to collectors.
He said: “But it’s only the one dated 2009 that has value worth around £250. Around 2.2million of the coins were minted in 2011 and released into circulation.”
“It helps when it comes with its original packaging which includes images of presenters from the popular show Blue Peter.
“It sold for £257 on eBay in the past- which makes it 500 times more than face value.
“This is a sought after coin among collectors. Good luck finding this very special 50p.”
The Blue Peter coin was designed by Florence Jackson, after she won a competition that saw more than 17,000 entries from the kids TV show.
The nine year-old became the youngest person to ever design a coin.
The video has whipped the internet into a frenzy with countless views, likes, and comments pouring in.
One viewer wrote: “Just bought this the other day, cost me a fair bit.” Another claimed: “I’ve got three of them.”
But a coin is only ever worth what someone else is willing to pay at the time.
A collector may be willing to pay more for example if it completes their collection.
Last year the coin sold £207.27 after attracting eight bids on eBay. In 2022 one went for £253 and in 2021 for £257.
Coins are usually worth more the fewer there are in circulation. The rarer a coin typically the more valuable it is.
Some coins can be worth more if they have an error on, as typically there are only a couple in circulation making them very rare indeed.
What are the most rare and valuable coins?
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- The 13 most valuable £2 coins in circulation
- How valuable are the rarest £1 coins?
- Most rare and valuable 50p coins in circulation
- Rare and most valuable 20p coins that could be worth up to £750
- Rarest 10p coins in circulation
- Rare 2p coins revealed
- How to check if you have a rare and valuable banknote
How to sell rare and valuable coins
If you’re lucky enough to find a rare coin, there are two main ways you can sell rare coins – through eBay or at auction.
If you want to sell the coin you’ve found in your spare change on eBay then you need to know the risks.
Remember to set a minimum price that is higher or at the very least equal to the face value of the coin.
Even if your coin “sells” on eBay for a high price there’s no guarantee that the buyer will cough up.
In its terms and conditions, the auction website states that bidders enter a “legally binding contract to purchase an item”, but there’s no way to enforce this rule in reality.
The most eBay can do is add a note to their account of the unpaid item or remove their ability to bid and buy.
This is because in order to sign up to the website users do not need to put in valid bank or PayPal details before making a bid.
If a bidder refuses to pay, then the only option for sellers is to give “second chance offers” to other bidders or re-list the item.
For items of a high value, eBay recommends that sellers put a limit on their listing to approve bidders.
It means bidders must email you before placing a bid but not that they must pay out the cash if they win.
If you’ve got a coin that you would like to sell at auction then you can contact a member of the British Numismatic Trade Association.
They usually deal in very old coins but they may be able to help you assess whether it’s worth selling your coin at auction or whether it would be valuable to collector.
They’ll usually charge you a fee for the service or take a percentage of the sale money.