This rare 50p coin is sought-after due to its design and date – so do you have one in your collection? Here’s everything you need to know about spotting a rare piece
People with excess change in their pockets have been encouraged to give it a closer look, as it could be worth considerably more than the face value. This is because there’s a coveted 50p in circulation that’s generating quite a buzz among collectors and enthusiasts alike.
The coin in question is a 50p piece bearing the portrait of King Charles III, released in 2023. Coin afficiando @CoinCollectingWizard previously revealed how the coin can be even more popular than a famous Kew Gardens piece.
2023 is the first full year of circulating coins carrying King Charles III’s portrait. Anything from that first-year window tends to attract extra attention from collectors, even when mintages aren’t ultra-low.
The coin isn’t necessarily “the coronation coin”, but being dated 2023 makes people link it to the Coronation year, which boosts perceived significance and demand.
New designs can also feel more uncommon because they haven’t had much time to enter circulation. Collectors may decide to hold onto them instead of spending, which can add to the scarcity as well.
Rebecca Morgan, from the Royal Mint, shared what a joy it can be for keen collectors to get their hands on the rare coin: “Finding these special designs, like the Atlantic salmon, in your change is a win for all collectors.”
The 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p has attracted enormous attention on eBay and across coin-collecting communities, fetching around £100 on these sites.
It seems that TikTok users are equally impressed, too. The coin collector’s video has garnered more than 750 likes and plenty of positive comments.
One TikTok user said: “My daughter has two.” Another said: “So exciting. Great vid.” And a third added: “I have one!” However, others weren’t as lucky.
Speaking about the difficulty of securing one of the coins by chance, a commenter added: “So hard to find!” Meanwhile, a second wrote: “We’ve seen none.”
How to spot a rare coin
1. Low mintage numbers – the fewer pieces produced, the more sought-after they tend to be.
2. Minting errors – look for mismatched dies, off-centre printing and metal defects that could make your coins stand out even more.
3. Specific designs – check for uncommon artwork like the Atlantic Salmon if you want to hit the jackpot.
4. Key date – a specific year combined with a rare mint mark could be very lucrative.
5. Look into the history – generally, older coins are rarer and tend to be made from more valuable materials too.
