A 50p coin that was released into circulation in 2009 has sold for £175 on eBay. 50 bids were made for the coin before it eventually sold.
Just 210,000 coins featuring the distinctive Kew Gardens design were minted during its original release. The coin features the famous Chinese Pagoda at the Royal Botanic Garden on the tails side, reports LincolnshireLive.
A re-circulated version of the iconic coin was minted in 2019, as part of a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 50p coin. As a much higher number of this coin was minted, it is considerably less valuable to collectors.
According to Coin Hunter, the Kew Gardens 50p piece normally sells for between £150.89 and £161.50, meaning this coin has sold for above the average. If you're looking to begin your own collection, it is important to make sure you're not falling for any scams. Coin enthusiast website Change Checker has some tips on the best ways to ensure a Kew Gardens 50p coin is genuine.
They say the important things to look out for include the 'frosted design' or 'very high relief' on the design, which can be used on fakes. They have also warned that coins that are 'too shiny' could be fakes, seeing as they have been in circulation since 2009 and many will have lost their shine by now.
The Royal Mint revealed the rarest 50p coins in circulation and the famous Kew Gardens 50p remains the most coveted.
Other rare designs include Olympic-themed 50ps minted in 2011. In 2019 more than 500 million coins were released into circulation, including three new 50p designs celebrating Arthur Conon Doyle’s fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, and Paddington Bear at St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London.
The Royal Mint’s director of UK currency Mark Loveridge said: “Coin collecting remains as popular as ever, and we were delighted to release a number of special designs into circulation in 2019.
“The Kew Gardens (50p) remains the most coveted coin, with a mintage of just 210,000, but it’s always exciting to find a special design in your change.”
Here are the rarest 50p designs in circulation, with their year and their total mintage, according to the Royal Mint:
1. 2009 Kew Gardens, 210,000
2. 2011 Olympic Wrestling, 1,129,500
=3. 2011 Olympic Football, 1,161,500
=3. 2011 Olympic Judo, 1,161,500
5. 2011 Olympic Triathlon, 1,163,500
=6. 2018 Peter Rabbit, 1,400,000
=6. 2018 Flopsy Bunny, 1,400,000
8. 2011 Olympic Tennis, 1,454,000
9. 2011 Olympic Goalball, 1,615,500
10. 2011 Olympic Shooting, 1,656,500
