- Rarest 50p Coins List
- Rare Olympic 50p List
- Most Rare 50p List
- Rare 50p List Paddington Bear
- Rare 50p Coins List
- Rare 50p Coins List
A list of 50 pence coin values based on up to 200 recent eBay sales for each 50p displayed. 50 Pence Coin Values. Rare 50 pence coin values. Anybody looking to assemble a complete collection of Liberty Head twenty dollar gold double eagles will need a rather large coin collecting budget to afford this extremely rare coin. 07 of 15 #9 1920-S Indian $10 Gold Eagle. Check our page for rare 50p coins value of all base metal 50p coins in circulation. We also have a rare two pound coins list. To see how many of each fifty pence coin were produced, see our 50p price list page which includes mintage figures for each 50p coin. This will show you every all rare 50p coins in circulation.
2021 marks 50 years since our UK coins turned decimal, in the biggest numismatic change seen in centuries.
In celebration of this significant anniversary, The Royal Mint issued not one, but TWO Decimal Day 50ps in 2021. The reverse designs are the same, but that certainly can’t be said for their obverses…
The first version of the Decimal Day 50p, available exclusively in the 2021 Annual Coin Set, features the original Arnold Machin portraitof Her Majesty The Queen on the obverse – the same obverse used for the UK’s very first decimal coins.
However, the individual coin which was released later in January, featured Jody Clark’s fifth portrait of The Queen instead.
Rarest 50p Coins List
So why did The Royal Mint revert back to the Queen’s first decimal effigy for this new issue? Join Change Checker as we take a closer look…
Spot the Difference
The 50p available in the Annual Setwhich features the original Machin portrait on the obverse, quickly caught the eyes of collectors as this was the first time we have seen The Royal Mint revert a previous portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II on a base metal UK coin.
Marking 50 years since our UK coins went decimal, it seemed only fitting that this coin should include Machin’s obverse design.
But, when the Decimal Day 50p was individually released later in January, collectors had the opportunity to get their hands on a second version of this coin, as Jody Clark’s portrait of The Queen featured on the obverse.
So with two versions of the 2021 UK Decimal Day 50p out there, this coin is set to become a real talking point among collectors!
Arnold Machin Portrait
The significance of this anniversary and the fact that the Machin portrait of HM QEII was the first to be used on the UK’s 50p, makes for the perfect excuse to revert back to this previous effigy on the exclusive Decimal Day 50p within the Annual Set.
The UK’s very first decimal coins (5p, 10p, followed by 50p) actually entered circulation before 1971 and as they were circulating together with pre-decimal currency, a new portrait of The Queen was commissioned to help the new coins stand out.
Arnold Machin’s new portrait showed The Queen wearing a tiara given to The Queen by her grandmother, Queen Mary.
We love the fact that collectors have the chance to see this previous portrait reused on this brand new 50p and it certainly makes for interesting collecting!
Have you secure both versions of the 2021 Decimal Day for your collections? Let us know in the comments below!
But that’s not all, as this is not the first time we’ve seen different obverses used on the same coin…
2015 Battle of Britain 50p
Rare Olympic 50p List
In 2015, The Battle of Britain 50p shot to fame as collectors were quick to spot that there were THREE different versions of the coin, with different obverses on each of them.
The Brilliant Uncirculated 50p was issued early in 2015 and was quickly dubbed an ‘error’ coin. The coins, which were sold in presentation packs, had been struck without the denomination in either numbers or writing anywhere on the coin. Chancers were quick to play to this, with some managing to sell on the coins for near to £100 each on the secondary market.
After the controversy surrounding the coin erupted, the Royal Mint confirmed that the 50p intended for circulation later on in the year would have the ’50 PENCE’ denomination. But was this after they had realised their mistake?
So how did this coin end up with three different obverses?
Most Rare 50p List
Each version of this coin has caused a stir in the collecting world. Not only does this Battle of Britain 50p fail to feature a denomination on the Brilliant Uncirculated version, but the obverse is different for each finish used for the coin – a first for a UK commemorative coin.
In 2019, a brand new re-issued Brilliant Uncirculated version of the Battle of Britain 50p (from the 2019 50th Anniversary of the 50p Military Set) saw Jody Clark’s portrait and the 50 PENCE denomination – making this the FOURTH version of this 50p!
Do you have any of the Battle of Britain 50p coins? Let us know in the comments below!
Secure the 2021 Annual Set with the Decimal Day 50p that features the original Arnold Machin obverse!
Own ALL FIVE brand new 2021 coins in superior collector quality for JUST £40.00 (+p&p).
Each coin has been struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality and protectively encapsulated in official Change Checker packaging, within in a Change Checker Display Page – perfect to slot into your Change Checker Album.
Order today to own the 2021 Commemorative coin Set in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality by clicking here >>
While rare 50p coins often have sky-high asking prices on eBay, that doesn’t mean you’ll actually get that much. We asked the experts what collectors will really pay for the most valuable 50p coins still in circulation.
A rare 50p coin may have sold for more than £90 on eBay earlier this week.
A listing for a Kew Gardens 50p coin achieved a winning bid of £91 (thanks to the Mail for spotting this) on 30 May.
You may have noticed that we said the coin 'may' have sold rather than 'has' sold.
As we've reported before, we've sadly seen a number of confirmed sales fall through on the auction site in the past, so we'll have to wait for confirmation of a successful sale.
That's not to say the coin in question isn't valuable and couldn't fetch such a price.
As you'll see below, genuine rare 50p coins have already been known to sell for £70.
So how can you tell whether your 50p piece is actually worth more than its face value? Read on to find out.
Don’t believe the hype
Be wary of both tabloid articles and asking prices online, says Luke Hearn of the Change Checker website.
Both can give a very over-inflated idea of what a coin is really worth.
'To be honest, there is a lot of misinformation written in the press regarding coins,' he says.
'The first and most obvious example of this is when people list coins for a ridiculous amount on eBay when actually nobody is ever going to pay that much.
“I think the reason behind this is nothing more complicated than people chancing their arm on the off chance they may get lucky.'
It's best, then, not to be too optimistic – and, if you're checking prices out on eBay, make sure you look at the prices coins have actually sold for, rather than the asking price.
Still have some of the old £1 coins? Find out if they are worth more than face value
What collectors are looking for
If you do find a rare coin, it'll need to be in good condition with little sign of wear and tear if you're to get any more than the face value.
Collectors are particularly keen on ‘Brilliant Uncirculated’ coins, which are made with a special superior finish.
However, it's still worth checking your change for 50p coins that were never intended for circulation but somehow have slipped out.
'This sometimes happens when some poor soul is robbed of their coin collection and the thieves simply break them out of their packaging and spend them,' says Perkins.
'Some of these coins are valuable: for example, the 2011 Olympic Aquatics coin with extra lines on the swimmer's face, which was a design that was withdrawn, not adopted and shouldn't have seen the light of day.
“They are rarely offered for sale as they are rarely encountered. The withdrawn 50p in its original packaging is worth £1000-plus.'
Rare 50p List Paddington Bear
But it’s not all about the super-rare coins. There are many for more common 50p versions that are worth a few quid to collectors.
Rare 50p Coins List
So if you've got a spare couple of minutes, you may want to fetch your purse or wallet right now.
Check Your Change has put together a list for loveMONEY of some of the 50p pieces in circulation that are genuinely worth more than their face value.
Happy hunting!
The 2009 Kew Gardens 50p: up to £70*
The Kew Gardens 50p was released in 2009 to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens. It's the rarest coin of any denomination currently in circulation, with only 210,000 ever issued.
*Pending confirmation
The 2011 Olympic Football 50p: around £8
Of the 29 50p coins issued to mark the 2012 Olympics, the Football version is the most valuable.
The 2016 Puddle-Duck 50p: £6 – £8
The Jemima Puddle-Duck 50p is the rarest of the five coins in the Beatrix Potter series. Only 2.1 million are in circulation.
The 2011 Olympic Triathlon 50p: around £6
There are 2.18 million of these in circulation, depicting a runner, a cyclist and a swimmer.
The 2011 Olympic Judo 50p: around £6
With 1.16 million in circulation, this is one of the rarer Olympic coins.
The 2011 Olympic Wrestling 50p: around £5
Rare 50p Coins List
Designed by Roderick Enriquez, this shows two wrestlers in action.
Other Olympic coins
In fact, all of the 2011-dated Olympic coins are harder to find now and can find buyers for between £1 and £2.
But, says Perkins, 'Obviously if you take selling fees into account and the hassle of posting them, it's a lot of effort to make £1 or so!'
The 2003 Suffragette 50p: around £1.50
This is worth three times its face value.
The 2011 WWF 50p: around £1.50
Again, this 50p is only just about worth selling, once you've taken fees and postage into account.
Want more stories like this? Visit loveMONEY homepage or sign up for our daily newsletter and let us send the news to you!