Households are being urged to check their change for a 50p coin that could be worth up to £2,000. The coin, first released around 15 years ago, remains a major talking point among collectors eager to get their hands on one.
TikTok user @CoinCollectingWizard, who has over 273,500 followers, shared information on the 2011 Aquatics 50p coin. He said: "Look out for this 50p as there is a rare version worth all this money."
The 'lines over face' error
This is the 2011 Olympic Aquatics 50p, one of 29 coins released for the London Games, but there's a super rare version that collectors are obsessed with. The secret is all in the face: the rare version has wavy water lines going over the swimmer's face.
He explained: "It's called the 'lines over face error' and it was quickly corrected, making those first few releases super limited." The expert further stated one of these coins sold for more than £2,000 in a private sale. He continued: "That's a 50p coin turning into a holiday, a new laptop or half a car."
How to spot the valuable coin
He added: "Just remember that the regular version is just worth 50p. You need to see those swimming lines over the swimmer's face to be rich. One tiny detail – one massive payday."
It is believed only 600 of the "lines over face" coins were made before the design was changed by The Royal Mint. However, RWB Auctions said it's more accurate to say the design was "tweaked" rather than it being an "error".
The website confirmed: "These 2011-dated coins regularly sell for more than a thousand pounds." In 2024 RWB sold an example of the coin for £1,500.
The regular, redesigned Aquatics 50p, where the face is visible, is very common and worth around £2 to £5.
