It’s worth checking behind the sofa to see if you can find any of these rare 50-pence pieces. While many rare coins were released hundreds of years ago, these prized possessions have all been released in the last 13 years.
If you’re lucky enough to come across all 10 coins listed below, you could make almost £300 – with average calculations working out at £296. Certain defects, such as no privy mark, could make this collection even more valuable.
Remember, a coin is really only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. So, it might be worth not getting into a bidding war just because you think a coin is valuable. You can read the Royal Mint’s guide to getting a fair price for a coin here. Now, let’s dive in!
Atlantic Salmon 2023
Despite only being released two years ago, this fish-themed coin has become one of the most sought-after 50-pence pieces. It has a mintage of just 200,000 and is currently selling on eBay for around £40.
However, this coin, which features a salmon on one side and a portrait of King Charles III on the other, is selling for around £80 if they do not have a ‘privy’. “A privy mark is a small symbol or mark that sometimes appears on coins honouring special or historic occasions, such as coronations and jubilees,” explains The Royal Mint. “Some of the 2023 definitive UK coins feature a special privy mark in the shape of a Tudor Crown.”
Kew Gardens 2009
Designed by Christopher Le Brun, the Kew Gardens 50p long reigned the rarest – and was only recently beaten by the Atlantic Salmon coin. With a mintage of just 210,000, this coin can fetch impressive amounts. At the time of writing, there is an eBay listing of the coin which has 16 bids and is currently on £92 – while coin sellers are advertising the 50 pence piece for a staggering £179.
“Brun celebrates the famous royal botanical garden with the iconic Chinese pagoda taking centre stage,” states the Royal Mint. “An immediate favourite, many went straight into private collections, making them even rarer than the low mintage suggests.”
Olympic Football 2011
This ‘playful’ coin was designed by sports journalist Neil Wolfson ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games which were hosted in London. It shows the ‘offside’ rules and has a mintage of 1,125,500 – meaning they’re not so easy to find. The Britannia Coin Company is currently selling this unique coin for £32, while eBay listings are asking for around £11.99.
Olympic Wrestling 2011
The second rarest Olympic coin is designed by Roderick Enrique and depicts the nail-biting moment a wrestler is thrown onto the mat. “Individual raised dots represent the watching crowd, and the purposely undersized mat emphasises the close-range nature of the bouts,” explains the Royal Mint. “The action silhouettes highlight the strength and technical skill involved in wrestling.”
There were 1,129,500 minted coins so your chances of finding one are still pretty slim. On eBay, this sporty coin can be bought outright for between £14 and £18.
Olympic Judo 2011
This dramatic coin beautifully demonstrates the action-packed sport of Judo, with two athletes captured mid-throw. Created by David Cornell, this 50-pence piece is often referred to as one of the most ‘detailed’ Olympic coins – and has a relatively low mintage of 1,161,500.
These coins don’t go for much, with a buy-it-now eBay listing currently selling one for £7 ‘or best offer’. However, when part of a set the 50p could increase in value.
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Olympic Triathalon 2011
Sarah Harvey’s Triathlon design cleverly depicts all three sports involved in the event: running, swimming, and cycling. “She came across the competition via a work email which she saw after coming back from maternity leave and chose the triathlon as she was fascinated by the sport,” explains the Britannia Coin Company, which sells the coin for £16. It has a mintage of 1,163,500 and sells for an average of £15 on sites like eBay, depending on its condition.
Peter Rabbit 2018
With a mintage of 1,400,000 – the Peter Rabbit 2018 50p is perhaps one of the most adorable designs in circulation. “The collection saw Proof and Brilliant Uncirculated coins struck as well as the circulating coins you can find in your change today,” states the Royal Mint. “The rare Peter Rabbit 50p coin features the famous bunny munching on radishes after another near miss in Mr McGregor’s garden.” Designed by Emma Noble, this playful coin fetches around £6.50 on eBay.
Flopsy Bunny 2018
The Flopsy Bunny 2018 coin is the first and only time Peter Rabbit’s sister has appeared on a UK coin and was a huge hit when it was released to the public. It is the perfect gift for any Beatrix Potter fans, has the same mintage as the Petter Rabbit 2018 coin (1,400,000) and sells for a similar amount online.
Olympic Tennis 2011
Created by Tracey Baines, a sculptor and jewellery designer from Peterborough, this sporty coin depicts the tense moment a tennis ball just about sails over a net. “Weeks after losing the Wimbledon final to Roger Federer, Andy Murray secured Olympic gold for Team GB by beating Federer in the men’s singles final at London 2012,” explains Royal Mint. While certainly lucky, this coin – which has a mintage of 1,454,000 – will only fetch around £5 on marketplaces like eBay.
Olympic Goalball 2011
Last but not least the Olympic Goalball coin from the London Olympic and Paralympic Games collection. Designed by Jonathan Wren, the coin portrays an athlete mid-way through a throw. With a mintage of 1,615,500 – these coins sell for an average of £8.95 online.
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