Coin collectors are being urged to check their spare change as several rare 50p coins worth hundreds of pounds remain in circulation. Among the most sought-after is the Kew Gardens 50p, released in 2009 to mark the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens. With only 210,000 minted, it recently sold for £170 on eBay, and experts say it could fetch up to £1,000 in top condition.
Even rarer is the EC 50p, issued between 1992 and 1993 to commemorate the completion of the Single Market and the UK's presidency of the European Council. Only 109,000 were produced, making it harder to find than the Kew Gardens coin. However, collectors note that it was struck on an older 50p design withdrawn from circulation in 1997, meaning it is unlikely to appear in everyday change but could still be hidden in homes.
A Christmas-themed 50p from 1998, featuring Santa and a chimney, sold for £151.25 on eBay after a ten-day bidding war. Although minted in Gibraltar and not legal tender in the UK, its rarity—only 30,000 were produced—makes it valuable to collectors.
Other notable coins include a rare £2 coin featuring Lord Kitchener, released in 2014 for the First World War centenary, which has sold for £500. With over 30 billion coins in circulation across the UK, experts advise checking piggy banks and old drawers for these hidden treasures.
