Home Sparkle Stardom News Blitz 08

The £135 50p Coin: 7 Rare UK Coins You Must Check Your Change For In 2025

• minute read
Contents

The dream of finding a fortune in your pocket money is real, and it’s all thanks to a tiny piece of metal worth 270 times its face value. As of December 2025, the coin that has captured the imagination of collectors is the legendary Kew Gardens 50p, a coin that has been confirmed to sell for prices reaching £135 and even higher on auction sites like eBay. This isn't just a rumour; a rare circulation coin with a tiny mintage has created a collecting frenzy, proving that a simple 50 pence piece can hold significant financial value for those who know what to look for.

The specific coin that commanded the £135 price tag is the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p. Its scarcity is the primary driver of its extreme value, but it is no longer the absolute rarest 50p coin in circulation. The world of coin collecting is constantly changing, with new issues and updated scarcity indexes shifting the rankings of the most valuable pieces. Understanding the profile of the Kew Gardens coin is key, but savvy collectors must also be aware of the *new* rarest coin and other high-value pieces to maximise their chances of striking numismatic gold in their loose change.

The £135 Coin: Kew Gardens 50p Profile and Rarity

The Kew Gardens 50p coin is, for many, the 'holy grail' of modern British coin collecting. Its story is one of a beautiful design combined with an incredibly low mintage, a perfect storm for creating a high-value collectable.

Kew Gardens 50p Biography

  • Coin Name: Kew Gardens 50p
  • Year of Issue: 2009
  • Theme: 250th Anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
  • Designer: Christopher Le Brun
  • Design: Features the famous Chinese Pagoda at Kew, encircled by a vine and the dates '1759' and '2009'
  • Mintage Figure: 210,000
  • Status: Circulating Commemorative Coin
  • Reported Sale Value: Up to £135 - £155 (and sometimes higher for uncirculated or graded examples)

The official mintage of the Kew Gardens 50p is just 210,000. This figure is remarkably low compared to the millions of other commemorative 50p coins released by The Royal Mint. For example, the mintage for the 2011 Aquatics 50p coin was 2,179,000, and the 2017 Beatrix Potter 50p had a mintage of 9,900,000. This stark difference in the number of coins available in circulation is the single biggest factor driving the price of the Kew Gardens coin to over £135.

For a long time, the Kew Gardens 50p held the title of the rarest 50p coin in circulation. However, in a major update to the coin scarcity index, its reign came to an end in 2023, making way for a new, even scarcer coin that collectors must now prioritise in their hunts.

The New Rarest 50p Coin and Scarcity Index Update for 2025

While the Kew Gardens 50p remains a highly valuable coin, its status as the absolute rarest has been officially superseded. The collecting landscape is now dominated by a new contender, which is even harder to find.

The 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p: The New Rarity King

The current rarest 50p coin in circulation is the 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p. This coin is part of the new definitive designs representing the flora and fauna of the UK. Its rarity is confirmed by its incredibly low mintage figure.

  • Mintage Figure: 200,000
  • Significance: This is 10,000 fewer coins than the Kew Gardens 50p, making it the scarcest 50p coin ever released for general circulation.
  • Value Potential: While it is newer and hasn't reached the established high prices of the Kew Gardens coin yet, its lower mintage suggests its long-term value could be even greater.

The Change Checker Scarcity Index is the best tool for collectors, as it tracks not just the mintage (how many were made) but the actual scarcity (how hard it is to find). As of 2025, the new definitive designs, particularly the Atlantic Salmon, are topping the charts due to their limited release.

Top 5 Other Valuable 50p Coins to Look For in 2025

Beyond the Kew Gardens and Atlantic Salmon coins, there are several other 50p coins that command significant value on the secondary market. These coins are highly sought after due to low mintage, popularity, or a combination of both. Always check the year and the design carefully.

1. The Olympic Football 50p (2011)

Part of the 2012 London Olympic Games collection, the Football 50p is consistently ranked as the rarest of the 29 Olympic designs. It features a detailed explanation of the offside rule. Its mintage is low, making it a key target for collectors.

  • Mintage: 1,125,500
  • Value: Often sells for £15 - £25, but can go higher for high-grade examples.

2. The Olympic Wrestling 50p (2011)

Another coin from the Olympic set, the Wrestling 50p is also highly sought after. While its mintage is slightly higher than the Football coin, it remains one of the hardest to find in good condition.

  • Mintage: 1,129,500
  • Value: Typically sells for £10 - £20.

3. The Olympic Judo 50p (2011)

The third most valuable of the Olympic series, the Judo 50p completes the trio of the rarest Olympic coins. The entire set is a popular collecting niche, but these three coins are the most valuable to find loose.

  • Mintage: 1,161,500
  • Value: Generally sells for £8 - £15.

4. The Peter Rabbit and Paddington Bear 50p Coins (Various Years)

While not as rare as the Kew Gardens coin, the Beatrix Potter and Paddington Bear series of 50p coins are incredibly popular, which drives up their value. The 2018 Peter Rabbit 50p is a prime example.

  • Mintage: Varies greatly (some are in the millions, but still popular).
  • Value: The rarest can sell for £5 - £15, but their popularity means they are always in demand.

5. The Roger Bannister 50p (2004)

This coin commemorates the 50th anniversary of Roger Bannister’s sub-four-minute mile. It has a relatively low mintage for a non-Olympic coin, making it a quiet favourite among numismatists.

  • Mintage: 9,032,500 (Low for its time)
  • Value: Typically sells for £3 - £8, but is a great find.

Maximising Your Find: Tips for Collectors in 2025

Finding a rare 50p coin like the £135 Kew Gardens piece is a matter of luck and persistence. To maximise the potential value of any rare coin you find, consider the following entities and steps:

  • Condition is King: An uncirculated coin (one that hasn't been handled much) will always fetch a higher price than a worn or damaged one.
  • Grading Services: For the rarest coins, like the Kew Gardens or Atlantic Salmon 50p, consider having it professionally graded by a service to certify its authenticity and condition.
  • eBay and Auction Sites: This is where the highest values, like the reported £135 sale, are often achieved. Always check "sold listings" to see the true market value.
  • Change Checker Scarcity Index: Regularly consult the official Change Checker Scarcity Index for the most up-to-date rankings of rare 10p, 50p, and £2 coins.
  • The Royal Mint: Keep an eye on new releases from The Royal Mint, as any coin with a low mintage figure could be the next high-value collectable.

The hunt for the rare 50p coin worth £135 continues, but the focus has broadened. While the Kew Gardens 50p remains a phenomenal find, the 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p is the new prize to look for. Keep checking your change, as a small piece of metal in your hand could be worth a significant sum.

The £135 50p Coin: 7 Rare UK Coins You Must Check Your Change For in 2025
rare 50p coin worth 135
rare 50p coin worth 135

Detail Author:

  • Name : Yolanda Schinner
  • Username : malika.durgan
  • Email : victoria.prosacco@grady.com
  • Birthdate : 1975-02-04
  • Address : 108 Bernard Extensions Apt. 309 Ericastad, HI 96696-7609
  • Phone : +1 (859) 420-9973
  • Company : Lowe-Mayert
  • Job : Extraction Worker
  • Bio : Illo ea suscipit est impedit ut illum. Eius minima possimus suscipit harum quis.

Socials

facebook:

instagram:

tiktok:

Random Posts