Most valuable and rarest 50p coins - do you have one worth £840 in your spare change (2024)

FAQs

What is the rarest 50p coin and how much is it worth? ›

The rarest is the Kew's Garden 50p, which was designed to mark the 250th anniversary of the gardens in 2009. Only 210,000 coins were ever minted with this design. The Kew Gardens 50p sells for £156.25 on average, but one seller received over £700 for one when they sold it on eBay.

You can easily figure out how rare a coin is, by checking its mintage figures. This relates to how many coins were produced by The Royal Mint. If a coin has a low mintage, it means there's less in circulation and is therefore rarer and it could potentially be worth more than its face value.

1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle

The 1933 version of this coin is perhaps the rarest and most sought-after one of all. The only privately-owned one is held by Stuart Weitzman. It was last valued at $7,500,000 compared to its original $20 value.

Collectibles are only ever worth as much as a collector is willing to pay but at the moment collectors are willing to pay around £3-£4 for a circulated version of this coin in excellent condition. Uncirculated versions will be considerably more. Where can I buy a 2023 King Charles III 50p coin?

The first design of the 2011 Olympic Games aquatics 50p is arguably the most highly prized 50p in existence. The design was created by Jonathan Olliffe, and it depicts a swimmer in action with fluid lines struck into the metal representing the waves. In the rare first design, these lines covered the swimmer's face.

One of the easiest ways to tell if a coin is rare is to check the date. If the coin is from before 1800, it's likely rare. Coins minted in the 19th century are also generally considered rare, with a few exceptions. Coins from the 20th century are less likely to be rare, but there are still some that meet the criteria.

There are numerous sources of information to help you determine the value of your coins. Reputable coin dealers, Coin Auctions, eBay, and Price Guides are great places to start.

Hire a professional appraiser to grade your coins and tell you how much it is worth. The American Society of Appraisers and International Society of Appraisers have searchable directories of professional appraisers. A dealer might also be able to help.

1911 Canadian Silver Dollar

This coin is the epitome of rarity, with only three known to exist. Known as the “Emperor of Canadian Coins,” one of these exceptionally rare coins sold for over a million dollars in 2010.

With just one coin currently in existence, the gold 1849 Double Eagle is considered the rarest and most valuable coin in US history.

What penny is worth millions? ›

1943 Wheat Penny (Bronze Cent Strike)

The CoinValue website calls this the “rarest and most valuable wheat penny with an error.” It holds the record for the most expensive sale among wheat pennies at $1.7 million, though it is valued at $2.3 million in uncirculated mint condition.

The Kew Gardens 50p coin is generally accepted as the rarest fifty pence coin in common circulation, explained by the fact that only 210,000 of them were minted in the first place. This is in comparison to the usual mintage numbers for 50p coins, which usually runs into the tens of millions.

No 50ps intended for circulation were struck to the old, larger specification in 1997. However, there were brilliant uncirculated and proof coins produced to the old larger specification for collectors. These can be seen in collectors sets like the 1997 UK Proof Set which includes an old-spec 50p and a new-design one.

Many collectors choose to sell through eBay or similar online auction sites operating today. It is definitely a better choice than going through a pawnbroker, but getting a reasonable price for even rare 2 pound coin or even a collectable 50p coin requires a great deal of right timing and even a bit of luck.