A rare Atlantic Salmon 50p coin has sold for £98 on eBay, nearly 200 times its face value, after a week-long auction drew 13 bids.
The coin, considered the scarcest 50p ever produced, was listed on eBay on August 23 and the auction concluded seven days later. It attracted five bidders before selling for £98, according to the listing.
Rarest 50p in circulation
The Atlantic Salmon 50p has overtaken the celebrated Kew Gardens specimen as the rarest 50p coin in circulation. Only 200,000 of these coins are currently in public hands, which means approximately one in 335 people across the UK could own one, according to ChangeChecker.
The coin was introduced to commemorate King Charles III's passion for nature conservation and environmental protection. It features a portrait of the King by Martin Jennings, which lacks a privy mark, making it the rarest standard circulating 50p ever released.
Collector interest and value
Coin collectors on TikTok frequently discuss the coin and its exceptional status. Circulated examples typically sell for between £50 and £90 on marketplaces such as eBay, while graded specimens can achieve £185. Official Royal Mint proof presentations usually attract higher collector prices, approximately £150.
The coin, which displays a leaping Atlantic salmon next to the denomination and King Charles' cypher, eclipsed the renowned 2009 Kew Gardens 50p to take the top spot. Versions in circulation may not feature the tiny privy mark, as this is typically found in annual collector sets.
Collectors can view official information on The Royal Mint website and check eBay sold listings to see what the coin has previously achieved.
