Coin collectors should be on the look out for these rare 50p coins
The top 10 rarest 50p coins have been revealed by the Royal Mint – some of which could fetch more than 100 times their face value.
As we move to an increasingly cashless society, it’s easy to forget about the loose change lost in back pockets or old purses and wallets, but some coins can actually be worth a lot more than their face value.
When it comes to what coins have a higher value, there are a few rules. Generally speaking, the rarer the coin, also known as a low mintage, the higher value the coin might carry.
On top of that, printing errors and coins tied to major historical events can increase their value.
Some rare coins can be sold for as much as hundreds of pounds, with 50p coins being particularly valuable due to their seven-edged design being unique and easy to recognise, with plenty of surface area for fancy designs.
The 50p is described by the Royal Mint as “the nation’s most collectable coin” and it has seen over 100 different designs appear on its reverse since its introduction.
The rarest 50p coin is the Atlantic Salmon from 2023 – with only 200,000 versions of this coin created, it became the rarest coin in circulation.
It was created as part of eight new designs representing flora and fauna from across all four UK nations following King Charles’ accession to the throne.
In second place is the Kew Gardens 50p coin from 2009. It has a mintage of 210,000 and held the number one spot of rarest 50p coin between 2009 and 2023 – before being taken over by the Atlantic Salmon.
With a mintage of 1,125,000, the Olympic Football 50p coin from 2011 is the third rarest. It was designed by sports journalist, Neil Wolfson and its unique design attempts to answer the question that has been asked since 1863: what is offside?
The other rarest coins stem predominantly from the 2011 Olympics, with the wrestling, football and judo coins among the most valuable. Only around 1.1million of each of these coins were produced.
The top ten rarest 50p coins, according to the Royal Mint
1. Atlantic Salmon 2023
Mintage: 200,000
In 2023, the Atlantic salmon took over to become the rarest 50p coin in circulation.
Only 200,000 of the Atlantic Salmon 50ps have been released to UK banks and post offices, which is 10,000 less than the 2009 Kew Gardens coin.
As well as featuring the Atlantic Salmon design on the tails side, the coin also bears the King’s portrait.
Looking on eBay’s sold listings, you can see that the Atlantic Salmon is generally sold for around £80, with some going for more than £100.
2. Kew Gardens 2009
Mintage: 210,000
The Kew Gardens 50p held its place as the rarest 50p coin in circulation between 2009 and 2023.
The design is by Christopher Le Brun and it depicts the royal botanical garden with the iconic Chinese pagoda taking centre stage.
Many of the coins went straight into private collections, which makes finding the coin even harder.
Demand for the 50p denomination was low in 2009, accounting for the unusually low number of 50p coins struck that year.
3. Olympic Football 2011
Mintage: 1,125,500
This unique design attempts to answer the question that has been asked since 1863: what is offside?
The coin was designed by sports journalist Neil Wolfson. It depicts a classic football tactics board to demonstrate in an easy-to-understand way when a player would be considered offside.
Just 1,125,500 coins were minted.
4. Olympic Wrestling 2011
Mintage: 1,129,500
Designed by Roderick Enriquez, this London 2012 Olympic Wrestling 50p coin immortalises an all-action sport.
The design captures the moment a wrestler is thrown onto the mat in a modern stadium representation.
The wrestling coin is the second rarest coin in the Olympic collection and remains one of the most collectable 50p pieces in circulation.
5. Olympic Judo 2011
Mintage: 1,161,500
This coin is one of the most detailed coins in the Olympic collection, giving the reverse a real sense of action in its accomplished portrayal.
Designed by David Cornell, it depicts two athletes in mid-throw. The skillful capturing of the movement of the throw makes it one of the most popular coins in the collection.
Only 1,161,500 of these coins were minted.
6. Olympic Triathlon 2011
Mintage: 1,163,500
The fourth coin from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games collection to make it onto the list of the rarest circulating 50p coins commemorates the triathlon.
The design, created by Sarah Harvey, shows three figures in action depicting each aspect of the triathlon. Lines sweeping across the coin cleverly portray the water and roads that the athletes compete in and on.
A total of 1,163,500 coins of this design were minted in 2011.
7. Peter Rabbit 2018
Mintage: 1,400,000
Peter Rabbit hopped onto coin designs in 2018 as part of the Beatrix Potter collection.
Designed by Emma Noble, a product designer at The Royal Mint, the rare Peter Rabbit 50p coin features the famous bunny munching on radishes after another near miss in Mr. McGregor’s garden.
There are just 1.4 million of the much-loved coins in existence.
8. Flopsy Bunny 2018
Mintage: 1,400,000
Another design by Emma Noble from the same year, the Flopsy Bunny coin is the first and only time Peter Rabbit’s sister has appeared on a UK coin.
The loveable character takes centre stage in the reverse design, which depicts her characteristic cape that will be familiar to all Beatrix Potter fans.
As with the Peter Rabbit coin, there are just 1.4 million of them.
9. Olympic Tennis 2011
Mintage: 1,454,000
The 2011 Olympic tennis 50p coin displays the unmistakable image of a tennis ball sailing over a net.
The design is by competition winner Tracey Baines, who is a sculptor and jewellery designer from Peterborough. Team GB’s Andy Murray won Olympic gold in London 2012, giving the coin even greater significance.
A total of 1,454,000 coins were minted.
10. Olympic Goalball 2011
Mintage: 1,615,500
The 1,615,500 goalball coins produced make this one of the rarest circulating 50p coins to date.
Competition winner Jonathan Wren designed this coin, which features the distinctive arc of an athlete in mid-throw during the Paralympic Games.
