'Rare' 50p coin sells for staggering £609 - check your change

One lucky individual managed to sell a "rare" 50p coin for more than £600 last month. The Kew Gardens 2009 coin is ranked the second rarest by the Royal Mint, with only 210,000 in circulation.

The seller, who listed the coin on eBay, received 22 bids before securing a staggering £609.16 on September 21. The coin features a design by Christopher Le Brun to celebrate the famous royal botanical garden with the iconic Chinese pagoda. The seller described the item as a "highly sought-after collectable", with this particular coin graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), an official coin grading service.

Coins become valuable when a limited number is put into circulation, making them harder to find and highly sought after by collectors. Britons are urged to check their pockets for rare 50p coins, as they could be worth hundreds.

Some rare 50p coins feature unusual markings, popular characters and cartoons, or commemorate specific events, such as the Olympics.

What 50p coin is the rarest?

According to the Royal Mint, the Atlantic Salmon 2023 is the rarest 50p coin. The coin was released as one of eight definitive designs representing flora and fauna from across all four UK nations following King Charles III's accession to the throne.

These coins have sold for anything between £103 to £363 this month.

After the Kew Gardens 2009 coin, the 2011 50p coins for Olympic Football, Wrestling, and Judo complete the top five.

Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint, said: "There are occasionally reports of coins selling for large amounts on the secondary market, some of which seem a bit far-fetched, so we want to ensure collectors have the right information and pay a fair price.

"A coin is ultimately worth what the collector is willing to pay for it, but there are factors you should consider before committing to a price. This can include the condition of the coin, its design, mintage figure and what it's made of.

"If you have a coin and are unsure about its history, rarity or authenticity, we offer a range of services at The Royal Mint to help establish its likely value, and help our customers build a bespoke collection. We also have a wide range of resources on our website to help people learn more about the coins in their pockets, and coins they might inherit from family members."