Rare 50p coin sells for 230 times its value at auction – detail to check in your change
A RARE 50p coin has sold for an astonishing £115 on eBay – that's 230 times its face value – and it might just be hiding in your spare change.
The auction featured a genuine 2009 circulated Kew Gardens 50p in good condition.
The coin attracted six bids before the hammer came down at £115.
The sale took place online and has caught the attention of collectors across London and beyond, where coin fans are always on the lookout for rare finds.
The Kew Gardens 50p is widely considered the holy grail of British coin collecting.
Just 210,000 of these special coins were released into circulation back in 2009, making them the rarest 50p piece ever issued by The Royal Mint.
With such low numbers, the odds of one turning up in your change are extremely slim – but not impossible.
The reverse of the coin features a detailed image of the famous Chinese Pagoda at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, with a leafy vine spiralling around the structure.
The obverse shows the late Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.
Collectors go crazy for this design, and it's often the coin that sparks people's interest in the hobby.
It even topped scarcity charts in the past and regularly sells for well above face value online.
At the peak of its popularity, some sold for hundreds of pounds.
Watch coin expert reveal the two rarest 50ps worth up to £195 face value- and key details to look for in change
Another Kew 50p recently fetched £134.07 after 19 bids, while similar examples have gone for £79 depending on condition. As always, a coin is only worth what someone is willing to pay, but demand for this one remains high.
It's worth noting that this 2009 version is the original and was actually put into circulation.
A second version was released in 2019 as part of a commemorative set, but it was never intended for everyday use.
The newer coin carries the same pagoda design but features a different portrait of the Queen and the 2019 date.
Even the 2019 proof version can go for decent sums, one recently sold for £82 after 11 bids.
But it's the original 2009 piece that collectors value most.
The Kew Gardens 50p was launched to celebrate 250 years since the gardens opened in 1759.
Today, the UNESCO World Heritage Site remains one of Britain's most iconic attractions, boasting treetop walkways, greenhouses, and historic buildings.
Prices for rare coins can vary widely depending on interest at auction. But with this coin still commanding high prices, now could be a good time to cash in.
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