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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Most valuable coins you can find in your change revealed – do you have one in your wallet?
Read more to find out how much your old change could sell for CASH IN Most valuable coins you can find in your change revealed – do you have one in your wallet? RARE coins you might be carrying in your wallet could fetch prices of more than £1,000. If you have stashes of loose change lying around, it's worth checking to see if any of these rare finds are lurking in your collection. Advertisement 3 A number of highly valuable coins could be lurking in your change Credit: tiktok 3 Some can be spotted in Royal Mint sets Credit: tiktok 3 The 1983 "new pence" coin can go for £1,000 Credit: tiktok One of the most sought-after coins wanted by collectors is the Kew Gardens 50p. Just 210,000 coins of this 2009 design were released into circulation - and almost all are in private hands according to The Royal Mint. But the lucky holders of these coins, which feature the Chinese Pagoda at Kew, could sell them for as much as £150 each. Another rare coin that could fetch £1,000 or more came into existence through a famous error on its wording. Advertisement Dating the 1983, these 2p coins read "new pence" instead of "two pence" on its tails side. TikTok account coincollectingwizard says these decades old 2ps are "a very hard coin to find". The account advises collectors and coin enthusiasts to check their Royal Mint sets - or "even luckier" find one in their change - if they hope to source one. While the 1983 date on the coin is a sign to look out for, the key unique feature is that "new pence" writing on the reverse side. Advertisement The rarest and most valuable 50p coins in circulation In addition, the ornate 2002-dated Commonwealth Games coins can also fetch a decent price. There are separate designs for each of the four countries of the United Kingdom - with the Northern Ireland coin being the rarest. The rarest version can go for around £35. The reverse of these coins shows a triumphant looking figure raising a banner over their head. Advertisement It was minted to mark the Commonwealth Games hosted in Manchester in 2002. Among coins in circulation, 50p pieces are one of the most popular to collect. This is largely thanks their surface area, which gives them enough space to include new intricate designs. Errors that make a coin unique are likely to increase its value. Advertisement The rarer the coin, the more sought after and valuable it will be to collectors.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Brits told to look out for 50p coin as one just sold for £100
"Check your mum's purse" for this highly sought-after coin, an expert said. Brits have been told to search through their coins at home after a relatively new 50p piece sold for an impressive £100. The coin in question was dubbed the 'rarest' 50p in circulation by the Royal Mint. According to an expert, we should all be keeping an eye out for the Atlantic salmon 50 pence. This coin was produced in 2023 as part of a new collection in honour of the coronation of King Charles III. As the name suggests, it features the image of an Atlantic salmon on its reverse (tail side) while King Charles' portrait is on the obverse (head side). What makes this coin particularly sought after is the fact that only 200,000 of these were ever made. This makes it the lowest-minted 50p in circulation, just beating the 2009 Kew Gardens coin, of which 210,000 were made. In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, an expert known as the Coin Collecting Wizard explained more. He said: 'Rare 50p coin sells for £100 and there are more out there. Did you know this is just a normal 50p coin? 'But wait, in the UK, 50p coins come in loads of different designs. But this, this is the Atlantic salmon 50p and it's not just any coin. 'It's already the new definitive 50p. Why is everyone freaking out about a fish on a coin?' In previous videos the expert had estimated that the coin could sell for around £80 to collectors. He continued: 'Well, one of these just sold online for £100. Yep, £100 for a 50p and it's rare. 'Only 200,000 of these were made. That makes it one of the lowest minted 50p coins ever.' He then urged people to get checking for this coin in their purses and coin jars. 'Coin collectors are literally checking their change for this thing. 'I've been checking every 50p I get now, like I'm on Antiques Roadshow. So next time someone gives you 50p in change don't just chuck it in a jar. It might be worth a hundred quid. 'Check your coins. Check your mum's purse. Check your Nan's biscuit tin.' On its website, the Royal Mint says: 'His Majesty King Charles III's 50p coin has been officially crowned as the rarest 50p in active circulation, following the latest mintage figures published by The Royal Mint. 'The coin depicting the Atlantic Salmon has knocked the highly collectable 2009 Kew Gardens 50p off the top spot for the first time, with just 200,000 released to UK banks and post offices at the end of last year. A total of 210,000 2009 Kew Gardens coins were released into circulation 15 years ago.' At the time of reporting, a number of these coins could be found on eBay listed at prices from £44.50 to £177.
CTV News
26-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
King Charles throne speech ‘an impactful moment,' says high commissioner
King Charles III attends The Elephant Family Evening of Art and Conservation at Kew Gardens in London, England, May 13, 2025. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP) King Charles III will deliver Canada's speech from the throne on Tuesday, in a rare show of constitutional tradition that some say carries added significance in a volatile global climate. 'His presence underscores how important this moment is,' Ralph Goodale, Canada's high commissioner to the United Kingdom, said in an interview with CTV News Channel Sunday. 'It also underscores his solidarity with Canadians and his great love for and support for Canada.' Goodale said the speech itself will be 'an impactful moment,' signalling democratic continuity at a time of international upheaval, economic strain and growing populism. 'Just his presence makes that very profound statement,' he added. The speech, which outlines the government's priorities for the upcoming session, is normally read by the Governor General. But Queen Elizabeth II delivered it twice herself — in 1957 and 1977 — and Charles will now do the same at the request of Prime Minister Mark Carney. Goodale noted striking parallels to 1957: a newly elected prime minister, a minority Parliament, and a monarch making their first official visit in their reign. He also pointed to growing interest in Canadian politics from British observers, many of whom are familiar with Carney's leadership from his time at the Bank of England. 'They're following Canadian politics more carefully, perhaps, than they typically would do,' Goodale said, noting that the upcoming G7 summit in Canada further raises the international profile. 'This [speech] is an opportunity for our system of governance to demonstrate in a tangible way that it's functioning properly,' he said. 'People can be reassured the system is in good hands.'
Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
‘Rare' 50p coin of King Charles is being sold for 150,000 times its value on eBay – have you checked your pockets?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A RARE King Charles III 50p coin has made waves in the collector's market after selling for an astonishing £75,000 on eBay. This sought-after 2022 piece, which celebrates the King's first year on the throne, was sold for the staggering amount. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A rare 2022 50p piece featuring King Charles has sold for an eye-watering amount of eBay Credit: PA 2 The piece sold for £75,086.72 Credit: PA The item features the Royal Coat of Arms on the reverse and was listed by the seller from Fareham, Hampshire. It was nabbed by the deep-pocketed buyer for 150,000 times its face value at £75,086.72. "This 50p coin features Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, as King III," the product's description wrote. "Minted in the United Kingdom in 2022, this coin is a must have for any collector of British coins. "While the reverse side features the Royal Coat of Arms. "The coin is part of the decimal coinage series and is a great addition to any collection of British coins." What other rare coins should you look out for? One of the most collectable coins is the 50p. Among the most valuable of these is the Kew Gardens design, which was created in 2009. Only 210,000 of these special coins were made. According to The Royal Mint, the Kew Gardens 50p has become one of the most talked about collectors coins in the last 15 years. All Americans to see major change coming to their cash after key policy change – and it will change grocery prices One recently sold on eBay for £157. Other 50ps to look out for are the Olympic designs. These were released by the Royal Mint in 2011 to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Some are more rare than others, but all are becoming increasingly difficult to find in your change. What should you do if you find a rare coin? It's worth remembering that a rare coin is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. They might be happy to pay more if it will complete their collection, for example. The Royal Mint has said it is unable to comment on the value of any individual coin so it is best to consult a coin dealer. You can do this by contacting the British Numismatic Trade Association. You can visit their website at: If you want to get an idea of how much your coin is worth, you can look online to see what it's sold for previously.
Sky News
24-05-2025
- Science
- Sky News
Scientists embark on crucial study to save Britain's bees
Scientists from Kew Gardens are using a new study to track which trees bees prefer to try to stem the decline in our vital pollinators. Bee populations are falling all over the world due to a mixture of habitat loss, climate change, and the use of pesticides, with a devastating impact on our biodiversity and food production. But it's feared that not enough comprehensive, global research is being done to understand the issue or find solutions. UK becoming a no-fly zone Researchers based at Wakehurst in Sussex, known as Kew's "Wild Botanic Garden", have begun placing advanced bio-acoustics sensors in some of their trees to track which ones bees favour. They hope it'll help urban planners know which trees to plant in built-up areas, as a way of combating the worrying decline in bee numbers. Pollination research lead Dr Janine Griffiths-Lee said: "Nearly 90% of our flowering plants depend on the contribution of pollinators, but in the UK the population of flying insects in the last 20 years has decreased by around 60%. "It's really hard to be able to put a figure on the decline of our pollinators, but we do know that globally the number is declining. "And with that comes crop yield instability and the loss of an essential ecosystem service." Their new, non-invasive monitors listen for the buzz created by bees' wing beats, building up heat maps of the most popular spots. 'We're facing twin crises' Dr Griffiths-Lee said: "If you think about the tree's footprint, it's very small, but they're huge 3D structures covered in pollen and nectar, which are essential resources of pollinators. "So we really wanted to think about which are the best trees for bees for us to plant, and that can inform landscape planners, urban architects." Eight different species of tree were chosen for the study, including horse chestnut and lime trees, with a mixture of native and non-native species. The scientists have also been gathering DNA from pollen, which also helps them to map which plants and flowers the insects prefer. Wakehurst's director, Susan Raikes, calls the 535-acre estate a "living laboratory", and said the project's all about searching for nature-based solutions to the impacts of climate change. "The stakes couldn't be higher, really. We know that we're facing these twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change," she added. "We need to be able to understand, as the climate changes, which plants from warmer climes will be good here in the UK for pollinators in the future. "If all of our native plants are struggling, then we need to find new sources of pollen - for us all to survive."
