These 50p coins are worth much more than you think
Get checking your pockets
Last updated 13th Apr 2017
Earlier this month there was great excitement when some colour 50p coins were released for collectors with a Peter Rabbit design.
However you might not have to go out of your way to get yourself a special 50p!
© Royal Mint
The most common 50p in circulation is the figure of Britannia, seated beside a lion, however it turns out that a few other designs are worth a lot more than their face value.
Change Checker's Scarcity Index has recently revealed which 50p coins are the most rare and therefore worth (in some cases), substantially more than 50p.
In the run up to the 2012 Olympics a variety of different Olympic designs were created including one of a swimmer (pictured below). Early versions of the coin show the swimmer with the water covering their head, however later versions have the lines of water removed.
© The Royal Mint
According to eBay only 600 of the early version are in circulation, fetching up to £3000 when they were first placed on eBay.
29 Olympic designs were minted and of them, the Triathlon, Football Offside Rule (pictured below right), Wrestling, Judo and Cycling are known to regularly fetch more than 50p. The Offside Explained one which apparently regularly changes hands for around £10.
Although not particularly rare the 2011 WWF design of the 50p (pictured above left) can often sell for around £200 to collectors, so start checking your purse!
© The Royal Mint
Dating back to 1992/3 this larger 50p coin (pictured below left) was issued to celebrate the British presidency of the council of Europe. These won't be in circulation as in 1997 a smaller 50p was issued, however only 109,000 of the EC coin were minted so if you have one at home it could be worth around £40.
At the end of March this year, Change Checker announced that the Kew Gardens design was number one in the Scarity Index with four Olympic designs rated numbers 2 - 4.
The Kew Gardens design was minted to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Only 210,000 coins were made and is now expected to sell on eBay for £70 - £100.
© The Royal Mint
Later this year we can expect some new Beatrix Potter designs to add to the popular collection originally released last year.
© The Royal Mint