Latest news with #MartinJennings
Daily Mirror
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Rarest 50p coin with 200k in circulation – and it's worth hundreds more than face value
You could own this special 50p coin which is believed to be the rarest of them all. It might be worth hundreds more than face value if you're able to find one in your pocket... Whether you're an avid collector of rare coins or not, certain designs are certainly special with some 50p pieces worth an absolute fortune. It's always good to check your stash as coins featuring errors or have low mintage are highly desirable among collectors. Now one expert unveiled the "rarest 50p coin" ever which is worth hundreds more than face value. So do you have the 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p coin lurking in your pockets? TikTok user @CoinCollectingWizard, who boasts 254,100 followers on the platform, revealed all you need to know as he asked fans: "Do you know the rarest 50p?" He continued: "You can find this worth £80. About 160 times its face value is the 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p coin." He revealed how the 50p coin features a portrait by Martin Jennings of His Majesty King Charlies III, but it has no privy mark which is the rarest standard circulating 50p ever issued. "Only the version dated 2023 and lacking the small crown privy mark found in annual sets is truly rare circulated pieces with this design entered everyday use and now command collector interest," he explained. "According to collectors and sale trackers, recent eBay transitions for this coin have fetched £70-£80, with some reports even reaching more depending on condition and demand." Speaking about the 2023 dated Atlantic Salmon coin, he claimed: "If yours does not have a Tutor Crown privy mark, it's worth £80, not the version sold in mint sets which is more common and typically worth less." The @CoinCollectingWizard also told us exclusively: "The Atlantic Salmon 50p coin has quickly become one of the most sought-after coins in UK circulation. "With a mintage of just 200,000, it's now officially rarer than the famous Kew Gardens 50p, which had a mintage of 210,000." Back on October 7, 2024, it was announced only 200,000 of the 2023 Salmon Atlantic 50p coins had entered circulation the previous year, less than half of the original estimated amount. According to Change Checker, this essentially means just one in 335 people in the UK could have the chance of bagging one of these special 50p coins. A recent poll also found 30% of people surveyed were lucky enough to find a 2023 Salmon 50p in their change. Meanwhile, at the beginning of each year, The Royal Mint issues an Annual Coin Set which usually includes five commemorative coins from the year ahead and a full set of definitive coins dated that year. But the Salmon Atlantic 50p coins issued as part of the 2024 and 2025 Annual Sets will not enter circulation or feature the privy mark on the obverse.
Daily Mirror
14-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
'Rarest 50p in UK circulation' worth £150 issued just two years ago
The 2023 coins display a portrait of the monarch on one side and a uniquely definitive image on the reverse Before carelessly tossing aside that loose change in your purse, check your coins. A recently minted 50p is now worth a hefty sum and you might just profit from it. At first glance, it may seem like an ordinary coin - it's a silver, heptagon-shaped 50p minted only two years ago. Yet, the Royal Mint has crowned it 'the rarest 50p coin in circulation', with only 200,000 available. "In 2023, the Atlantic salmon became the rarest 50p coin in circulation," specialists at the British coin maker have claimed. "Part of eight new definitive designs representing flora and fauna from across all four UK nations following His Majesty King Charles III's accession to the throne, it entered circulation at the end of November 2023." The 2023 coins, issued six months after King Charles III's coronation, display a portrait of the monarch on one side, illustrated by Martin Jennings. This is accompanied by a unique, definitive salmon image on the reverse, reportedly inspired by His Majesty's passion for the environment. Populations of Atlantic salmon are severely impacted by climate change, overfishing, water pollution, and various other human-influenced factors. Nonetheless, they can still be seen in the clean rivers of Scotland and Wales, as well as some regions of North and South West England. Right now, the Britannia Coin Company values certain '2023 Atlantic Salmon' pieces from £150. Others are listed for as much as £260 on eBay, though demand and pricing are forecasted to potentially increase. According to specialists at Copes Coins, the most valuable among these are said to exclude a 'privy mark'. This refers to a tiny crown image located at the nape of His Majesty's neck. In an online blog, they claimed: "The Salmon 50p coins in the Royal Mint sets include the special privy mark (the little crown) shown below, behind the King's head. This version of the coin is only found in the 2023 Definitive Annual Sets, and can still be bought from the Royal Mint for £34." They added: "The version you will find in your change WILL NOT have a privy mark[...] The coins without a privy mark and dated 2023 are the rarest coins in circulation, and they are the ones that have a mintage figure of only 200,000." Besides this, it's also worth acknowledging that various other factors can affect the value of a coin. For instance, a coin in poor condition will likely fetch less than another that appears almost brand new. Chris Yang, co-founder of Coins Value, previously told the Daily Record: "Coins in perfect 'mint' condition are worth far more than their well-worn, damaged, and poor-condition counterparts. Sometimes a minor difference in grade translates to hundreds, maybe thousands in value." He went on: "In sum, scrutinise your coins, have them identified and graded professionally, and work with experienced numismatists to determine the real value of your coins so that you can sell them for the best price. "Remember, the thrill of coin collecting isn't always about striking gold; it's about connecting with history and uncovering hidden treasures. Your old coin jar might hold more than just spare change – it could be a portal to a fascinating past."
The Guardian
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Letter: Alan Yentob obituary
Alan Yentob did another great service to the BBC and to British culture by giving the final imprimatur to the siting of Martin Jennings's statue of George Orwell, promoted by my late husband, Ben Whitaker, outside the BBC HQ, and by choosing the best quotation to be inscribed beside it: 'If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.'
