A rare 50p coin from 2009, featuring the Kew Gardens design, has sold for £125.50 on eBay. The coin, which is the second rarest in circulation according to the Royal Mint, was listed by a seller and sold on December 13. Only 210,000 of these coins were minted, making them highly sought after by collectors.
The coin's design, created by Christopher Le Brun, celebrates the famous royal botanical garden with the iconic Chinese pagoda and a decorative leafy climber. The seller described the item as a “highly sought-after collectable”, and it was graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), an official coin grading service.
Britons are urged to check their pockets for rare 50p coins, as they could be worth hundreds of pounds. Some rare 50p coins feature unusual markings, popular characters, or commemorate specific events, such as the Olympics.
According to the Royal Mint, the rarest 50p coin is the Atlantic Salmon 2023, released as part of a set of eight definitive designs representing flora and fauna from across the UK following the accession of King Charles III. After the Kew Gardens coin, the 2011 Olympic Football, Wrestling, and Judo 50p coins complete the top five rarest.
Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint, advised collectors to consider factors such as condition, design, mintage figure, and material before committing to a price. She noted that the Royal Mint offers services to help establish a coin's value and authenticity.
