A social media expert has revealed that a specific 50p coin from 2009 could be worth a staggering £7,000. This valuation is reserved for an 'ultra-rare' version of the coin, making it a highly sought-after item for numismatists across the United Kingdom.
The £7,000 Gold Proof Coin
In a video on TikTok, a specialist known as the Coin Collecting Wizard explained the key detail. He stated, "£7,000 for this 50p, but only if it's gold." This particular coin is the Kew Gardens 50p, which was first minted in 2009. The coin's reverse side features a detailed image of the iconic Chinese pagoda located within the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
While a standard cupro-nickel version of the Kew Gardens 50p was released into general circulation and is itself considered the second rarest 50p in the UK, worth around £150-£200, the gold proof version is in a league of its own. Crucially, only 629 copies of this 22-carat gold proof edition were ever produced and sold to the public in 2009.
Soaring Value and Auction Success
The expert highlighted a recent sale where one of these pristine coins achieved the impressive £7,000 price tag. The coin in question was graded PF70, which is the highest possible grade, indicating a perfect condition. This specific auction result surpassed initial estimates of between £5,000 and £6,000.
The value of this collectible has skyrocketed over recent years. The Coin Collecting Wizard noted that a similar gold proof Kew Gardens 50p sold for around $2,000 just five years ago, representing a massive 240 per cent increase in value. This dramatic appreciation underscores the coin's status as the 'holy grail' for UK coin hunters.
Design and Legacy
The celebrated design on the coin's reverse was created by Christopher Le Brun. It was first issued to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the famous West London landmark. The Britannia Coin Company, which currently has a pre-owned example listed online for £4,995, confirmed the extraordinary demand for this specific edition. On its website, the company stated that the appeal of the Kew Gardens coin has made commemorative sets containing it particularly desirable.
For anyone checking their change, the key identifiers for the ultra-valuable version are its gold colour and proof finish, a high-quality minting technique that gives it a mirror-like background and frosted design elements, distinct from the standard coins used in everyday transactions.
