Rare 50p coin sells for £255 on eBay because of huge error - check your change (2024)

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Around 25 million of the Benjamin Bunny coins were struck for circulation in 2017 - so it isn't impossible that a mistake could have happened. Here's what to look out for

Rare coins that are now worth a small fortune

A rare Benjamin Bunny 50p coin has sold for £255 on eBay because of a huge error in its design.

The coin features the cute Beatrix Potter character on one side and was first released in 2017.

But what makes this particular version unusual is a mistake on the side that shows the Queen’s head.

According to the seller, the Queen's head is in a different direction on the obverse to the design of Benjamin bunny on the reverse.

When you flip over a coin, the Queen’s head should be facing the same way as the design on the other side.

Do you have a rare coin in your collection? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk

In the listing description, the seller said: "In the picture you will see the rotation error where the Queen's head is - that's how far the rotation is on the coin.

"When you flip it round, it should be facing up the same way as Benjamin bunny."

The seller adds that the 50p is in "lovely condition".

The trouble with error coins is that they are extremely rare to find and could be one of only a handful, or even one of a kind.

The Royal Mint is able to verify coins to check they are genuine.

It is worth noting this particular Benjamin Bunny 50p only ended up attracting two bids on it after a five-day auction.

This means some coin hunters may have been wary about bidding on it as it didn’t gather a lot of attention.

Around 25 million of the Benjamin Bunny coins were struck for circulation in 2017 - so it isn't impossible that a mistake could have happened.

The design was minted as part of four coins to celebrate Beatrix Potter, with other characters in the collection including Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten and Jeremy Fisher.

A regular version of the Benjamin Bunny 50p coin would only fetch between £1 and £1.54 on eBay, according to Coin Hunter.

You should always be wary and do your research first before buying any coin on eBay, as there are fakes floating around.

Websites and Facebook groups from change experts like Coin Hunter can help you work out if a coin is the real deal or not.

We've got a guide on the rarest error coins that could be worth up to £3,100.

Another coin to watch out for is this bizarre 20p with no date on - it can fetch up to £60 on eBay.

And this rare version of a £2 coin launched to mark the centenary of the First World War could be worth up to £500.

Meanwhile, a coin expert said how this HG Wells £2 coin could be worth up to £1,000 due to a minting error.

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Rare 50p coin sells for £255 on eBay because of huge error - check your change (2024)

FAQs

Rare 50p coin sells for £255 on eBay because of huge error - check your change? ›

A rare Benjamin Bunny 50p coin has sold for £255 on eBay because of a huge error in its design. The coin features the cute Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter
Helen Beatrix Potter (/ˈbiːətrɪks/ BEE-ə-triks; 28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943) was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist. She is best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which was her first commercially published work in 1902.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Beatrix_Potter
character on one side and was first released in 2017. But what makes this particular version unusual is a mistake on the side that shows the Queen's head.

What is the error on the 50p coins? ›

To find it, you'll need to look at the way Benjamin Button is positioned in comparison to the late Queen. That's because some of the coins contain a rare rotation error which shows Benjamin's head titled further left.

How do you know if you have a rare 50p coin? ›

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.

What is the error on the rare Benjamin Bunny 50p? ›

although this coin. is the most common commemorative 50 pence. a rare rotation error can be found. you can see that when the coin is turned around. and the head is one side further than it should be.

Are error coins worth more? ›

Numismatic value of error coins

Like other coins, the value of errors is based in part on rarity and condition. In general, lower denomination errors are less expensive than higher denomination errors simply because more such coins are minted resulting in available errors.

Which 50ps are worth keeping? ›

Top 12 most valuable and rarest 50p coins
  • 2011 London Olympics Aquatics – lines over face version. ...
  • 2009 Kew Gardens. ...
  • 1992-1993 European Presidency. ...
  • 2011 London Olympics Wrestling. ...
  • 2011 London Olympics Football. ...
  • 2011 London Olympics Judo. ...
  • 2011 London Olympics Triathlon. ...
  • 2011 London Olympics Table Tennis.
Mar 5, 2024

Who buys rare 50p coins? ›

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.

How much is a rare 50p coin 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.

What is the most scarce 50p coin? ›

1. Kew Gardens 2009. The famous Kew Gardens 50p still holds its place as the rarest 50p coin in circulation today, 13 years after it was created. Its beautiful design celebrates the famous royal botanical garden with the iconic Chinese pagoda taking centre stage.

How do you tell if a coin is a misprint? ›

Roll the coin along your palm, so you can see all of the edge while you watch for seams, lines, missing reeded edges, and other abnormal factors of the edge. If the edge has letters, look for doubled or missing letters.

What years are error coins? ›

Pennies with errors can be found from any year, although some years may have more errors than others. Some of the more common years for errors include 1955, 1956, 1972, 1989, and 1995.

What is the rarest coin known to man? ›

1849 Double Eagle Gold Coin

The one remaining specimen is carefully preserved at National Numismatic Collections at the Smithsonian Institution. The 1849 Double Eagle is currently the rarest and most valuable coin in the world, with an estimated value of around $20 million.

Why is the 1997 50p coin so valuable? ›

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.

What is the NEW PENCE error? ›

All 2p coins struck between 1971 and 1981 included the words 'NEW PENCE' as part of their reverse. In 1982 and in subsequent years the words 'NEW PENCE' were replaced with the word 'TWO PENCE'. However, in 1983 a small number of 2p coins were mistakenly struck with the wording 'NEW PENCE' on the reverse.

What does it say on a 50p coin? ›

50p Coins List. A figure of Britannia, seated beside a lion, with a shield resting against her right side, holding a trident in her right hand and an olive branch in her left hand, with the figure 50 below and the inscription NEW PENCE above.

How do you tell if a coin is an error coin? ›

You want to look for die cracks, cuds, and missing elements. Pay close attention to the portrait's eyes, ears, mouth, and chin, looking for signs of doubling. Be sure to look at the rim, too, watching for anything abnormal. Be careful as you check each coin.

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