The humble 50p coin has become a firm favourite with collectors due to the wide variety of designs that have appeared on the coin since its official introduction in 1969. From the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to coins commemorating Peter Rabbit™ and Pride UK, there is a special 50p design for everyone. However, it is not only the reverse designs that make these coins unique as a select few have incredibly low circulation numbers, making them extremely sought after.
Finding a rare 50p coin is like uncovering a hidden gem Bottom of Formand the two rarest 50p coins in circulation, which many consider as the most collectable, are the 2009 Kew Gardens UK 50p coin and the 2023 Atlantic Salmon UK 50p coin.
The Kew Gardens 50p Coin Design
The Kew Gardens 50p coin was introduced to celebrate the botanical garden’s 250th anniversary in 2009. The venerable institution depicted on the coin is the United Kingdom’s most famous royal botanical garden. The reverse design, created by Christopher Le Brun, features the famous Chinese Pagoda at Kew with a decorative leafy climber twining in and around the tower.
How Rare is the Kew Gardens 50p Coin?
If you were to ask a coin collector how they started their journey into coin collecting, the chances are they would give you the following answer: ‘because of the Kew Gardens 50p coin’. Due to its low mintage of 210,000, the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p piece has become one of the most talked about coins in the coin-collecting community over the last 15 years.
Demand for 50p coins was not high when the coin was released into circulation, which explains the low mintage of the piece. There have been reports of circulating and commemorative editions of this coin selling for much more than its face value, which has only increased its appeal to collectors.
The Atlantic Salmon 50p Coin Design
The Royal Mint first unveiled the Atlantic salmon coin design in October 2023 as part of a suite of eight new designs set to appear on the coins of the nation. Introduced on the United Kingdom’s definitive coins, the designs highlight His Majesty King Charles III’s passion for conservation and the natural world. In November 2023, the Atlantic salmon became the first of these eight new designs to enter circulation.
How Rare is the Atlantic Salmon 50p Coin?
Collectors predicted a low mintage for the 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p coin, and we can confirm it is even rarer than the beloved 2009 Kew Gardens 50p coin. The 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p coin has a mintage of 200,000, the lowest mintage of a circulating 50p coin and we expect many collectors will now turn their attention to securing this coin as part of their collections.
Finding a Rare 50p Coin
Finding a rare 50p coin could be as easy as checking the change you have at home. You can also join our coin-swap community on Facebook where you can chat with other collectors about the best places to pick up unusual finds.
A sought-after design could drop right into your lap, so be careful to check your change for anything unusual before you spend it.
