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The £135 Coin: 5 Rarest 50p Coins You Must Check Your Change For In 2025

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The hunt for rare British coinage continues to heat up in late 2025, with one specific 50p coin consistently making headlines for its staggering resale value. The coin in question, often cited for selling for as much as £135—and sometimes significantly more—is the legendary 2009 Kew Gardens 50p, a true holy grail for UK collectors. This article provides the most up-to-date information for December 2025 on this coin's current market value, its rarity, and crucially, how you can verify if the one in your pocket is the genuine article.

The allure of the Kew Gardens 50p is not just its face value; it's the exceptionally low mintage figure combined with its beautiful, unique design. As more collectors join the search, the price for a circulated version remains volatile, often fetching hundreds of pounds at auction. We break down the true value and reveal the other four rarest 50p coins you should be checking your change for right now to boost your coin collection's worth.

The Holy Grail: 2009 Kew Gardens 50p Coin Profile

The 2009 Kew Gardens 50p is, without a doubt, the most famous and sought-after commemorative coin in UK circulation. Its reputation as the "rarest 50p" has driven its resale value far beyond its 50 pence denomination.

  • Coin Name: Kew Gardens 50p
  • Year of Issue: 2009
  • Commemoration: The 250th Anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Designer: Christopher Le Brun
  • Reverse Design: Features the iconic Chinese Pagoda at Kew Gardens, encircled by a vine and the dates "1759" and "2009," with the word "KEW" at the base.
  • Mintage Figure (Circulation): 210,000
  • Current Circulated Value (Late 2025): Typically sells for between £71 and £190, depending on condition and auction platform.
  • Highest Recorded Sale: Uncirculated or Proof versions can command much higher prices, with the ultra-rare gold proof version selling for up to £7,000 in 2024.

Why is the Kew Gardens 50p Worth So Much?

The value of a coin is directly tied to its scarcity, and the Kew Gardens 50p is a perfect example of this numismatic principle. With a mintage of just 210,000 coins released into circulation, it has the lowest mintage of any commemorative 50p coin ever produced by The Royal Mint (though a newer coin has recently come close, as we will discuss).

To put that figure into perspective, the next rarest coin in the Beatrix Potter series, the 2016 Jemima Puddle-Duck 50p, had a mintage of 2.1 million—ten times higher. The sheer difficulty of finding a Kew Gardens 50p in your change is what drives the collector market price up to the £135 mark and beyond. Every year, more of these coins are found and taken out of circulation, making the remaining ones even rarer.

The Crucial Check: How to Spot a Genuine Kew Gardens 50p

Due to its high value, the Kew Gardens 50p is one of the most counterfeited coins in the UK. Collectors must be vigilant. A fake coin is worthless, so knowing the key authentication points is vital before you consider a sale or purchase. Here are the most important details to check on your coin:

  • The Pagoda Detail: On a genuine coin, the Pagoda should have clear, high-relief detail. If the surface texture is grainy or the top of the Pagoda appears to disappear or is poorly defined, it is likely a fake.
  • The Queen's Neckline Pointer: This is a key identifier. On the obverse (Queen's head) side, the point of the Queen's neckline should be directed at the letter 'P' in the word 'PENCE' on the inscription. If it points elsewhere, walk away.
  • The Rim and Pagoda Top: On a real Kew Gardens 50p, the very top of the Pagoda tower should lead directly into the rim around the edge of the coin. On many fakes, the point of the tower is noticeably shorter or does not touch the inner rim.
  • Designer Initials: The designer's initials, "IRB" (Ian Rank-Broadley), should be appropriately sized. If the initials or the surrounding text are too large, this is another sign of a counterfeit.

The Top 5 Rarest 50p Coins in Circulation (Late 2025)

While the Kew Gardens 50p is the most famous, the collecting landscape is always changing. New mintage figures released by The Royal Mint continue to reveal other low-mintage coins that are rapidly increasing in value. Here are the five rarest 50p coins you should be looking for in your change, ranked by their official mintage figures:

1. The 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p

This coin has officially taken the title of the lowest mintage 50p ever released into circulation. It was part of the set celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS). Its scarcity is unprecedented.

  • Mintage Figure: 200,000
  • Current Value: Circulated versions are already fetching high prices, often selling for £10 to £20, with prices expected to climb significantly as its rarity becomes more widely known.

2. The 2009 Kew Gardens 50p

Despite being edged out by the Salmon coin on mintage, the Kew Gardens 50p remains the most valuable due to its long-established reputation and collector demand. It is the one most likely to sell for £135 or more.

  • Mintage Figure: 210,000
  • Current Value: £71 to £190 (Circulated)

3. The 2011 Olympic Football 50p (Offside Rule)

Part of the famous 2012 Olympic Games collection, the Football coin is one of the most popular. The original design, which featured a diagram explaining the offside rule, was corrected for the final issue, but it is the low mintage of the circulating coin that drives its value.

  • Mintage Figure: 1,125,500
  • Current Value: Circulated versions are typically worth £10 to £20, but high-grade examples can fetch more.

4. The 2011 Olympic Wrestling 50p

Another popular coin from the 2011 Olympic series, the Wrestling coin is highly sought after by collectors aiming to complete the full 29-coin set. The low mintage makes it one of the most difficult to find.

  • Mintage Figure: 1,129,500
  • Current Value: Circulated versions are often sold for £5 to £15.

5. The 2016 Beatrix Potter 50p (Jemima Puddle-Duck)

The Beatrix Potter series contains several rare coins, but the Jemima Puddle-Duck coin is consistently one of the highest-valued. It features the beloved character from the classic children's tales.

  • Mintage Figure: 2,100,000
  • Current Value: Circulated versions typically sell for around £6 to £14, proving that even a mintage in the millions can still be valuable if the coin is popular.

The Future of Rare 50p Coin Collecting

The market for rare 50p coins remains incredibly active in 2025. The introduction of the 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p with its record-low mintage figure demonstrates that The Royal Mint continues to release coins that will become future collector items. The value of coins like the Kew Gardens 50p, which has a tangible history of high sales (like the much-reported £135 auction), is unlikely to drop.

The key takeaway for any budding numismatist or casual change checker is simple: always check the date and the design. While the Kew Gardens 50p is the most valuable coin to find, keeping an eye out for any coin with a mintage below 2 million, especially those from the Olympic and Beatrix Potter series, could yield a significant return. Happy hunting!

The £135 Coin: 5 Rarest 50p Coins You Must Check Your Change For in 2025
rare 50p coin worth 135
rare 50p coin worth 135

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