Ultra-rare pattern on 50p coin means that it's just sold for £69 after bidding war – do you have one in your pocket?

The Sun

26-05-2025

Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer
Published: Invalid Date,
BRITS are being urged to check down the backs of sofas and rifle through their purses after a rare coin sold for £69.
Cash is being uses less and less nowadays, with many preferring the convenience of tapping contactless cards to make payments.
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And whilst many of us increasingly see loose change as an annoyance, which we shove deep into our jeans pockets, never to be touched again, it can actually be extremely valuable.
The rarest coin currently in active circulation is His Majesty King Charles III's 50p coin, depicting the Atlantic Salmon.
Just 200,000 of the coins were released back in 2023, 10,000 less than 2009's Kew Gardens 50p coin, which was previously the rarest in circulation.
The commemorative coin features a salmon jumping out of the water on one side, and the word '50 pence' on the other side.
On the other side of the coin is a picture of King Charles III.
Over 100 different 50p designs have been released since the coin was first introduced, making it the nation's most collectable coin.
And if you happen to have a rare 50p gathering dust in your piggy bank, it make you a decent bit of cash.
This week, an Atlantic Salmon coin sold on eBay for a whopping £69, after a fierce 16 bid showdown.
There are countless other listings for the coins, with sellers charging upwards of £100 for the rare 50p.
Royal Mint revealed that one in 355 people have the likelihood of finding a salmon coin in their wallet, so why not check now to see if you could make some cash.
The rare marking that makes error 50p worth more than 100 times its face value
On October 7 one coin sold for £164 with six bidders fighting for the prize.
Another sold for £147 on December 16 with a whopping 37 bids.
If you're ever unsure of how much a coin should be sold for, it helps to look at what prices other people are listing.
You can also run it through Change Checker's Scarcity Index to get a sense of its value.
Rare coins, especially those with low mintages, can fetch hundreds and even thousands of pounds.
Coins that have mistakes on them are also extremely rare, and collectors will pay thousands for them.
How to Sell a Rare Coin
If you're lucky enough to find a rare coin amongst your spare change, you can sell them through online marketplaces such as eBay.
You can also sell coins via auction, through the Royal Mint Collector's Service.
If you choose to do it this way, a team of experts will authenticate and value your coin, and advise you on how to sell.