07-06-2025
Warning issued to UK households over ‘rare' 50p coins that are being sold on eBay for up to £100
The coins aren't always worth as much as they seem to be
MONEY MATTERS Warning issued to UK households over 'rare' 50p coins that are being sold on eBay for up to £100
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EXPERTS have warned Brits to be careful after discovering "rare" 50p coins selling on eBay for hundreds of pounds.
Coin collectors revealed the true value of the coins and warned would-be collectors to be vigilant.
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Some "rare" coins are only worth their face value
Credit: EBay
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Coins selling for hundreds of pounds are rarely worth that much
Credit: EBay
Everyday Brits were warned that the coins selling for hundreds or even thousands are often worth nowhere near that much.
While some coins are super rare finds, part of a low mintage of featuring mistakes, the majority are only worth their face value.
A coin collecting expert who goes by the name @ shared the truth about the rare pieces.
Some listings spotted by the expert on eBay had price tags of up to £100,000, a massive markup.
One particular coin that is often seen listed with an eye watering price tag is the "Brexit 50p" which is not rare at all.
Despite numerous listings on eBay pricing the 50p piece at upwards of £10,000 the coin is only worth its face value.
Brits who are looking to get into coin collecting were warned to avoid the dodgy listings.
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The Brexit 50p has been listed for more than £10,000
Credit:The Brexit 50p features writing on the "tails" side reading: "Peace Prosperity And Friendship With All Nations."
It had a 10 million odd mintage meaning it is not rare in the slightest and only holds its face value of 50p.
Another common discovery on eBay is the Mrs Tittlemouse 50p, which has been listed for £10,000 plus.
Olympic Aquatics 50p coin error
The coin expert again debunked the eye watering price tag explaining that the piece was only worth around £3.
While rarer than the Brexit 50p the Mrs Tittlemouse 50p still isn't worth anywhere near what some sellers are asking for it.
Even the rarest coins often sell for less than £1,000 with one of the rarest coins in UK circulation, the Kew Gardens 50p, selling for £800.
Some collectors will pay extortionate amounts for rare pieces but coins rarely sell on eBay for the prices sellers sometimes ask for.
Coins are made rare by having a low mintage, meaning only a few were printed, or by having mistakes.
Currency minted with mistakes is very valuable to collectors since an exceedingly small number of coins are printed and put into circulation with errors on them.
Commemorative pieces like the London Olympics coins are rare too with only a few put into circulation for a limited time.
But even the Olympic coins aren't worth much more than their face value unless they have an error.
To spot a rare coin Brits have been urged to check their mintage numbers before buying or selling them.
Rare metal coins, such as gold bullion, have an inherently high price due to the cost of the metals they are made of.
