AN ULTRA rare 50p coin with a specific date that has sold for over £200 could be lurking in your spare change.
The Blue Peter 50p was minted for the 2012 London Olympics and depicts a high jumper in mid-flight.
A rare Blue Peter 50p you may have in your spare change could be worth over £200[/caption]
The Blue Peter 2009 50p coin was minted ahead of the 2012 London Olympics[/caption]
The piece was designed by nine-year-old Florence Jackson in 2009 who won a competition run by the popular kids TV show.
Over 2.2million of the Blue Peter 50p coins were issued, with most minted in 2011.
However, 20,000 of the pieces were struck in 2009, which if found in your spare change could be worth a hefty sum.
You’ll know if you’ve got one of the rare 50ps if a 2009 date is printed on the edge of the heads side.
Posting about the coin recently on his account, TikTokker TheCoinCollectingWizard revealed how the coin has been known to sell in eBay online auctions for over £200.
He said: “Collectors are keen to get their hands on this piece of history and it’s nod to the classic children’s television show adds a personal stake to the value for many too.
“It helps when it comes with its original packaging that includes images of presenters from the hit show.”
It’s worth bearing in mind you might not get £200 if you stumble upon one of these rare 50ps.
What eBay buyers are willing to pay for a rare piece is based on the condition of the coin and packaging, or just how they feel that day.
However, auctions for the coin in recent months have seen it sell for over £200.
One, which received four bids, sold for £202 in January, while another bagged its owner £218 in December.
How to spot a rare coin
A coin is usually classed as rare if a limited amount were minted or an error occurred during the manufacturing process.
A low mintage figure, which is set by The Royal Mint, relates to how many of a coin were made.
Generally, the lower that figure, the more buyers are willing to pay for it because there are less in circulation.
Rarest 50p coins
These are the rarest 50p coins and the years they were first minted, according to The Royal Mint:
- Atlantic Salmon – 2023
- Kew Gardens – 2009
- Olympic Football – 2011
- Olympic Wrestling – 2011
- Olympic Judo – 2011
- Olympic Triathlon – 2011
- Peter Rabbit – 2018
- Flopsy Bunny – 2018
- Olympic Tennis – 2011
- Olympic Goalball – 2011
You can find out what coins are rare on The Royal Mint’s website.
The Change Checker website has scarcity indices too – these tell you how many of a particular coin were minted.
When it comes to error coins, how much you’ll get for them varies from piece to piece.
For example, the HG Wells £2 error coin has been known to sell for up to £1,000 in the past.
Bronze 20p coins have been known to sell for up to £750 as well while error £1 coins have been known to go for £1,000s.
How to sell a rare coin
You can sell a rare coin on eBay, Facebook, or at auction.
If you’re selling on Facebook, be wary of online scammer and try and pay in cash if you can.
The safest way to sell a rare coin is more than likely at auction. You can organise this with The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service.
It has a team of experts who can help you authenticate and value your coin.
You can get in touch via email and a member of the valuation team will get back to you.
If you’re selling on eBay, research how much the coin you have has sold for in previous auctions.
This will ensure you price the coin correctly and are more likely to attract a higher number of bidders.
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