Iconic 50p coin sells for 400 times its face value after huge bidding war – and YOU could have one in your wallet

Scottish Sun

2 days ago

We reveal how to spot a rare coin in your spare change below
COINING IT Iconic 50p coin sells for 400 times its face value after huge bidding war – and YOU could have one in your wallet
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AN ICONIC 50p has sold for 400 times its face value following a fierce bidding war.
The Kew Gardens 50p recently fetched £205 on eBay after 29 buyers battled it out for the piece.
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A Kew Gardens 50p coin has sold for £205 on eBay
Credit: EBay
Just 210,000 of the coin were released into circulation making them well sought-after by collectors.
Find one in your spare change and you could earn hundreds of pounds.
The 2009 coin was struck to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London.
The reverse side design, created by Christopher Le Brun, features the Chinese Pagoda at Kew adorned by leafy climbers.
There is also a 2019-dated Kew Gardens coin, but the 2009 version is considered much rarer and more valuable.
Bear in mind, if you find a rare Kew Gardens 50p in your spare change, you might not get £205 for it.
Another recent auction on eBay saw one of the same coins sell for £146 while another fetched £156.
How much you can get for yours depends on a number of factors including how much bidders are willing to pay on the day.
The Kew Gardens 50p is second in The Royal Mint's top 10 list of rarest 50ps, below the 2023 Atlantic Salmon.
How to spot a rare coin
A coin is usually classed as rare if a low amount was struck or an error occurred during the manufacturing process.
Is Your 50p Worth More Than You Think
For example, the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p is valuable because only 210,000 were minted.
The same goes for the Atlantic Salmon, with only 200,000 put into circulation in 2023.
A coin is classed as an "error" piece if something went wrong during the manufacturing process and the coin was struck incorrectly.
These types of coins are few and far between making them super valuable.
The HG Wells £2 error coin has been known to sell for up to £1,000 in the past.
Bronze 20p coins have been known to sell for up to £750 as well while error £1 coins have been known to go for £1,000s.
How to sell a rare coin
You've got three main options: in auction, on eBay or on Facebook Marketplace.
The safest way to sell a rare coin is at auction. You can organise this with The Royal Mint's Collectors Service.
It has a team of experts who can help you authenticate and value your coin.
You can get in touch via email and a member of the valuation team will get back to you.
You will be charged for the service though - the cost varies depending on the size of your collection.
If you are selling on eBay, make sure you list the coin's price accurately.
You can do this by checking how much other sellers have sold the same piece for.
It's pointless listing a rare 50p for £100 if people have only been willing to pay £50 for it previously, for example.
Finally, you can sell on Facebook Marketplace, but be wary of scammers trying to get you to transfer money to dodgy accounts.
It can be easier to meet buyers in person and get cash for your coin, but only in daylight and in a public place.
In any case, if you're selling on eBay or Facebook, decent pictures will help the coin sell for the best price.