A rare 50p coin has fetched more than 200 times its face value after an online auction.
The Kew Gardens piece drew eight bids on eBay before being snapped up for £122.18.
Released by the Royal Mint in 2009, only 210,000 copies of the coin were ever produced.
The piece commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, which was founded in 1759.
Designed by Christopher Le Brun, the reverse shows the famous Chinese Pagoda entwined by a leafy vine, alongside the dates 1759 and 2009 and the word KEW, with Queen Elizabeth II featured on the obverse portrait.
For more than a decade, the design stood as the most sought-after commemorative 50p piece to enter circulation in the UK.
The mintage remains exceptionally scarce, with collectors eagerly hunting down circulating examples in their change.
Five Incredibly Rare and Valuable British Coins
What makes a coin valuable?
The 50p piece provides a distinct heptagonal canvas for coin designers.
With a diameter of 27.5mm, it is the largest British coin in circulation and offers space for commemorative artwork.
Rarity serves as the primary factor driving collector demand and market prices.
Low mintage figures mean fewer examples exist to buy or trade.
Coin condition also plays an important role, with well-preserved specimens securing higher prices.
Collectors also prize unusual design errors and striking flaws that escape the mint.
Sales avenues can influence the price realised for a rare coin.
Sellers often turn to competitive online bidding on eBay to test market demand.
Others prefer formal valuations from professional coin dealers to establish a certified market value.
Royal Mint top 10 most valuable 50p coins
Royal Mint mintage figures confirm the rarest 50p designs to enter general circulation:
- Atlantic Salmon (2023), 200,000
- Kew Gardens (2009), 210,000
- Olympic Wrestling (2011), 1,129,500
- Olympic Football (2011), 1,161,500
- Olympic Judo (2011), 1,161,500
- Olympic Triathlon (2011), 1,163,500
- Peter Rabbit (2018), 1,400,000
- Flopsy Bunny (2018), 1,400,000
- Olympic Tennis (2011), 1,454,000
- Olympic Goalball (2011), 1,615,500
The 2023 Atlantic Salmon coin holds the title as the rarest 50p design in circulation.
Anyone checking their loose change is urged to keep an eye out for these scarce editions.
Share