BRITS are being urged to check their change for a rare 50p coin which sold for more than 300 times its face value.
When the Kew Gardens 250th anniversary coin was produced in 2009, only 210,000 copies were in circulation, making it a hot commodity among coin collectors.
Because of their scarcity, the coins frequently fetch high prices on sites like eBay, with one making £160 after sparking a minor bidding war on the online auction site last week.
The seller said the coin was “circulated” – meaning they could have found the coin in their back pocket, in their wallet, or down the back of their sofa.
The tail side of the coin displays the Chinese Pagoda in the Royal Botanic Gardens, as well as a portrait of the Queen.
It drew interest from 29 bidders eager to get their hands on one of the Royal Mint’s rarest coins.
The rarest is the Kew’s Garden 50p, created to commemorate the gardens’ 250th anniversary in 2009.
Only 210,000 coins with this design were ever produced.
The average price for the Kew Gardens 50p is £156.25, however one seller received more than £700 for one when they sold it on eBay.
The remaining rarest coins are primarily from the 2011 Olympics, with wrestling, football, and judo coins among the most precious.
Each of these coins was made in limited quantities of 1.1 million.
Flopsy Rabbit and Peter Rabbit designs created in 2018 are also extremely expensive.
In 2019, 500 million 50p coins were produced, including three new designs.
These featured one of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, Paddington Bear at St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London.
How do I know what my coin is worth?
You can compare your rare coin on online auction sites, or The Royal Mint website.
But remember that if you intend on selling your coin, the price you get will depend on what someone is willing to pay for it on the day.
And beware of fake coins; do your research and seek a professional opinion if necessary.
Top 10 most valuable 50p coins
According to the Royal Mint, these are the top 10 most valuable coins, when they were made and how many were minted:
- Kew Gardens (2009), 210,000
- Olympic Wrestling (2011), 1,129,500
- Olympic Football (2011), 1,161,500
- Olympic Judo (2011), 1,161,500
- Olympic Triathlon (2011), 1,163,500
- Peter Rabbit (2018), 1,400,000
- Flopsy Bunny (2018), 1,400,000
- Olympic Tennis (2011), 1,454,000
- Olympic Goalball (2011), 1,615,500
- Olympic Shooting (2011), 1,656,500