Home Coverage Viral Buzz 07

The £135 Coin Hiding In Your Change: A 2025 Guide To The Rarest UK 50p Coins

• minute read
Contents

Every day, millions of people handle UK 50 pence coins, unaware that a small percentage of them are worth hundreds, and occasionally, thousands of pounds. As of December 2025, the coin that famously sold for around £135, the iconic Kew Gardens 50p, remains one of the most sought-after numismatic treasures, but it’s no longer the absolute rarest in circulation. The world of coin collecting is constantly evolving, with new mintage figures and auction results creating fresh opportunities for collectors and casual coin-checkers alike.

This comprehensive 2025 guide dives deep into the specific 50p coin that achieved the £135 sale price, reveals its true scarcity, and provides an up-to-date list of the other most valuable 50p coins you should be hunting for right now. The difference between a coin worth face value and one worth a small fortune often comes down to a tiny detail and a low mintage figure released by The Royal Mint.

The Legend of the Kew Gardens 50p: Why It's Worth £135 (and More)

The "rare 50p coin worth 135" that captured national attention is the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p. This coin was released to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

The design, created by Christopher Le Brun, features the famous Chinese Pagoda at Kew, encircled by a vine and the dates "1759" and "2009."

The value is driven by one critical factor: scarcity. The Royal Mint confirmed the mintage figure for the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p at an incredibly low 210,000 coins.

To put this in perspective, most commemorative 50p coins have a mintage in the millions. The low number means the coin is rarely found in everyday change, making it highly desirable for collectors.

Current Value and Auction Performance (2025 Update)

While the £135 sale price is a confirmed historical transaction, the current market value can fluctuate significantly based on the coin's condition and the platform it is sold on.

  • Average Circulated Value: A coin found in change (circulated condition) typically sells for between £76 and £90.
  • Auction Results: Recent auction results, including one scheduled for late 2025, have shown hammer prices around £90 for circulated examples.
  • eBay Listings: Listings on platforms like eBay can be volatile, with some ambitious sellers asking for over £2,000, though actual sale prices are generally much lower but can still exceed £135, especially for Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) examples.

The Kew Gardens 50p remains the gold standard for rare circulation coins, but its status as the absolute rarest has been challenged by a more recent issue.

The Rarest 50p Coin in Circulation Right Now (2025)

For collectors seeking the ultimate prize in their change, the Kew Gardens 50p has been officially dethroned by a much newer coin. The title of the rarest 50p coin in active circulation now belongs to the 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p.

This coin is part of a series celebrating the UK's native fish and features a striking design of an Atlantic Salmon. The reason for its extreme scarcity is its even lower mintage figure.

The Royal Mint's mintage figures confirm that only 200,000 Atlantic Salmon 50p coins were released into circulation. This makes it the scarcest 50p coin by a margin of 10,000 compared to the Kew Gardens piece.

While its current resale value is still stabilizing as more enter the market, its low mintage guarantees it will be one of the most valuable circulation coins for years to come, making it a priority for any coin hunter.

Top 10 Most Valuable UK 50p Coins to Check Your Change For (2025)

Building topical authority requires looking beyond just the Kew Gardens coin. Many other commemorative 50p designs have low mintage figures, high collector demand, and significant resale value. Collectors often refer to these as "error coins" or "scarcity coins," and they represent excellent investment potential.

The following list details the top ten rarest 50p coins in circulation, based on official Royal Mint mintage figures as of 2025.

The Rarest of the Rare: Mintage Under 2 Million

  • 1. Atlantic Salmon 50p (2023): Mintage: 200,000. The absolute rarest coin in circulation.
  • 2. Kew Gardens 50p (2009): Mintage: 210,000. The coin famously worth £135.

The Highly Valuable London 2012 Olympic 50p Series

The 2011 Olympic Games series produced 29 different designs, many of which have low mintage figures, making them highly collectible. The top three are:

  • 3. Olympic Football 50p (2011): Mintage: 1,129,500. Features the offside rule diagram. A highly sought-after design.
  • 4. Olympic Wrestling 50p (2011): Mintage: 1,129,500. Shares the same low mintage as the Football coin.
  • 5. Olympic Judo 50p (2011): Mintage: 1,161,500. Another key piece from the London 2012 collection.

Other Rare Circulation Coins

Beyond the Olympics, several other commemorative coins are worth checking your pockets for:

  • 6. Olympic Triathlon 50p (2011): Mintage: 1,163,500.
  • 7. Olympic Aquatics (Full Body) 50p (2011): Mintage: 2,179,000. Note: There is a rarer "lines over face" error version that is significantly more valuable.
  • 8. Peter Rabbit 50p (2018): Mintage: 1,400,000. Part of the popular Beatrix Potter series.
  • 9. Flopsy Bunny 50p (2018): Mintage: 1,400,000. Another valuable Beatrix Potter coin.
  • 10. Jemima Puddle-Duck 50p (2016): Mintage: 2,100,000. The first Beatrix Potter coins tend to hold higher value.

Tips for Maximizing Your Coin's Value

Finding a rare 50p coin is only the first step; maximizing its value requires careful attention to detail and proper selling techniques. The condition of the coin is paramount. A coin in "Brilliant Uncirculated" (BU) condition, meaning it has never been handled or entered circulation, will always fetch a higher price than a circulated coin.

When selling, always use high-quality photographs that clearly show both sides of the coin. Use trusted platforms like eBay or specialized numismatic auction houses to reach serious collectors. Furthermore, be wary of "error" coins that are simply damaged; true error coins, such as the famous "lines over face" Aquatics 50p, are confirmed by coin experts and The Royal Mint.

The hunt for the next £135 coin is a fun and potentially profitable hobby. With the Atlantic Salmon 50p now leading the scarcity charts, and the Kew Gardens 50p holding its classic value, keep a keen eye on your change—you might just be holding a small fortune.

The £135 Coin Hiding In Your Change: A 2025 Guide To The Rarest UK 50p Coins
rare 50p coin worth 135
rare 50p coin worth 135

Detail Author:

  • Name : Armand Baumbach
  • Username : grady.jayce
  • Email : sawayn.lera@hotmail.com
  • Birthdate : 1985-10-25
  • Address : 452 Yundt Villages O'Reillyside, MT 60060-6297
  • Phone : 949.742.3364
  • Company : Von, Little and Lakin
  • Job : Athletes and Sports Competitor
  • Bio : Soluta quidem ex sequi nobis sit error ut. Minus harum quis provident ut consequuntur. Qui aliquid qui quia molestias.

Socials

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/arnoldo8663
  • username : arnoldo8663
  • bio : Nostrum hic pariatur non qui expedita. Nihil sint ea libero optio sit iste nihil.
  • followers : 6686
  • following : 2913

tiktok:

facebook:

  • url : https://facebook.com/arnoldo4190
  • username : arnoldo4190
  • bio : Incidunt autem rem reiciendis sed unde. Ea voluptatem laudantium nam error.
  • followers : 3211
  • following : 795

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/alakin
  • username : alakin
  • bio : Sit ea repudiandae repellendus quod. Vel aliquid nemo numquam. A distinctio unde perferendis magni commodi sed et.
  • followers : 6579
  • following : 1867

linkedin:

Random Posts