Rare 2009 Kew Gardens 50p coin eBay sale, Digi Mart USA News (United Kingdom): Brits are being urged to check their change after a rare Royal Mint coin sold for more than 200 times its face value.
The 2009 Kew Gardens piece drew 17 bids on eBay before selling for £107.02 on November 2. The listing described the coin as ungraded and uncertified, and its authenticity has not been independently verified.
The Royal Mint released the Kew Gardens 50p in 2009, with 210,000 struck for circulation. The coin commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Its reverse depicts the Great Pagoda entwined with a climbing vine, while the obverse carries a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The Royal Mint ranks the 2009 Kew Gardens edition as the second rarest circulating 50p by mintage, behind the 2023 Atlantic Salmon.
The Mint says demand for 50p coins was low in 2009, accounting for the small number struck. The 50p piece provides a distinct heptagonal canvas for coin designers, and the coin measures 27.3mm in diameter and offers space for commemorative artwork.
Rarity and collector demand can influence market prices, and low mintage figures mean fewer examples were issued for circulation. Coin condition also plays an important role, with well-preserved specimens usually worth more.
Some collectors prize unusual design errors, such as the Olympic Aquatics 50p with waves over the swimmer’s face. Sales avenues can influence the price realised for a rare coin, and an auction or a professional valuation can help collectors establish what a coin might be worth.
Royal Mint figures list the rarest 50p designs to enter general circulation by mintage. The 2023 Atlantic Salmon coin holds the title as the rarest 50p design in circulation.
Collectors can check their change for the circulating editions on the list.
