A sought-after 50p coin has been sold to a collector for almost £140. And with the Royal Mint estimating around 210,000 of the commemorative coins were made, so there is a reasonable chance you could have one in your change.
The coin sparked a bidding war after being put up for sale on eBay and ended up fetching 274 times its face value earlier this month. It was released in 2009 to mark 250 years since Kew Gardens opened in 1759.
The 50p piece features the famous Chinese Pagoda at the Royal Botanic Garden on one side, with the Queen's face on the other as normal. The recently-sold coin, which was listed online as a "FANTASTIC KEW GARDENS EXTREMELY RARE 2009 50p COIN Q.E.II", had a starting price of just £1, reports the Echo.
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But after 22 bidders got involved, the price shot up to £137. This particular 50p piece is reportedly estimated to be worth around £140, making that sale price about right.
Many coins are worth more than their original face value as collectors want to get their hands on them - and particularly rare ones can sell for thousands of pounds. However, if you find a Kew Gardens 50p in your wallet or pocket, check the date on it.
The Royal Mint reissued a batch of the coins in 2019 to celebrate 50 years since 50p coins were introduced, and the more recent version doesn't tend to sell for as much. However, they have gone for up to £80 on eBay previously, so could still earn you a tidy profit.
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