Rare coins can fetch a fortune so could a 50p featuring King Charles III known as the Atlantic Salmon be lucrative for people who find it in their purses?
If you stumble upon an ultra-rare Kew Gardens 50p coin you could rake in a pretty penny.
The rare coin is already famous among enthusiasts but hold your breath, because a gold edition could line your pockets with a staggering £7,000. Recent buzz on TikTok, however, has been about a new coin on the block – the Atlantic Salmon 50p. Popular user @CoinCollectingWizard, boasting a whopping 196,100 followers, shed light on the fact that there are reportedly just 500,000 of these coins gracing purses and piggy banks, according to data from Coin Hunter. A striking feature of this coin is the depiction of King Charles III on its reverse, a fresh sight minted in 2023. And while it’s not easy to spot this elusive treasure amongst your loose change, it’s not impossible, reports the Express.
“This 50p is selling for crazy money, you can find it in your change,” said the social media coin guru. “There are rumours the Atlantic Salmon 50p that only recently entered circulation could have a low mintage of only 500,000 coins. This would make it the second rarest circulating 50p that can be found in your change,” he added. “The rarest 50p as we all know is the elusive Kew Gardens, which has a mintage of 210,000.
“If the whispers are true and the Salmon 50p’s numbers are as low as 500,000, it’s bound to become a prime catch for numismatics.” But the influential TikToker dialled back the excitement, stating it remains “only a rumour at this stage”. He summed up his findings with cautionary advice: “No one knows how many are out there or how many more are due to be seen.”
The flurry of speculation was first triggered when treasure hunters noticed that this new 50p addition to British currency seemed rarer than expected in everyday transactions. The coin’s worth has soared on digital platforms such as eBay and among numismatists, turning it into a coveted treasure. Social media was abuzz with the revelation of the coin’s specifics, attracting a swarm of likes and a flurry of comments from collectors. One excited user commented: “Crazy money *flames emoji*.” Another boasted: “I have one.”
A third collector added to the conversation with: “I’m still looking for one.” The rarest coins in the UK include the 1937 Edward VIII Gold Sovereign which, with only six coins minted, is worth a staggering £1 million according to the fee paid by a private collector. The 1933 George V Penny is another famous UK coin, with seven issued and a worth of £73,000. Both coins were originally created as pattern coins, which are experimental coins produced to evaluate a design, new metal or production method.
