A coin expert has issued an urgent warning to households about a rare 50p piece listed on eBay for £10,000, cautioning that such prices are misleading and urging collectors to verify values through sold listings.
Overpriced eBay Listings Mislead Collectors
The specialist, known as @CoinCollectingWizard, told his 270,300 TikTok followers: "Look at these prices for a King Charles 50p. Wow £10,000, £7,000, I am rich, I need to speak to the Coin Collecting Wizard. These coins were produced in the millions and can be found in your change. Remember anyone can put up ridiculous prices on the likes of eBay."
He highlighted that while some King Charles 50p designs are listed for up to £10,000, comparable pieces also carry a £7,500 asking price. However, he emphasised that these figures do not reflect actual market value.
Atlantic Salmon 50p: The Rarest Circulating Coin
Discussing the Atlantic Salmon 50p, the expert noted rumours that only 500,000 coins entered circulation. "This would make it the second rarest circulating 50p that can be found in your change. So you can imagine if this Salmon 50p does end up being as low as 500,000, it will be highly sought-after by coin collectors. But please note this is only a rumour at this stage. No one knows how many are out there and remember this tip always use the filter options on eBay and filter by sold listings to get a more accurate estimation of your coin."
According to the Royal Mint, the 2023 King Charles Atlantic Salmon 50p is officially the rarest 50p in active UK circulation, with a mintage of just 200,000—marginally lower than the previously rarest UK coin, the Kew Gardens 50p. While this makes it scarcer than the celebrated 2009 Kew Gardens piece, circulated versions on the secondary market typically fetch between £50 and £90.
Variants and Mintage Details
A separate version of the Atlantic Salmon was issued in Annual Sets and features a tiny Tudor Crown privy mark behind His Majesty's neck. This variant carries a higher mintage and is considerably less rare than the standard circulated coin. Although the Salmon 50p was included in collector sets for 2024 and 2025, these were not released into general circulation and do not feature the privy mark.
Casting his eye over more realistic valuations, the expert concluded: "As you can see the coin's mentioned at the beginning of the video are selling for just over 50p."
Expert Advice for Coin Collectors
The CoinCollectingWizard urged households to always check their change for unusual coins, as rare pieces can be found in everyday circulation. He advised using eBay's filter options to view sold listings, which provide a more accurate estimate of a coin's value. Should you believe you are in possession of a rare coin, it is always advisable to seek guidance from a professional or auction house.
