50p coin sells for 116 occasions its worth after eBay bidding warfare
As bids flew in the price jumped up and up
A 50p piece has fetched a staggering 116 times its original value after sparking something of a bidding war on eBay. Initially listed for a modest £35, the coin’s price skyrocketed as bids poured in.
The Atlantic Salmon 50p holds the title of the rarest 50p currently in circulation. This unique coin was one of eight new designs released following His Majesty King Charles III’s ascension to the throne. With a limited mintage of just 200,000, it knocked the Kew Gardens 50p off the top spot when it was minted in 2023.
The eBay listing, titled ‘2023 Salmon 50p Coin – No Privy Mark – King Charles III, Rare – 200,000 Released’, attracted 13 bids before finally being snapped up for £58.04, with the buyer also footing a £3 Buyer Protection Fee.
The 2023 coins have a leaping salmon design, a nod to His Majesty’s passion for environmental conservation. The reverse side features a portrait of King Charles III.
Experts estimate these coins to be worth around £65, suggesting this seller may have sold slightly short. According to the Royal Mint, the rarest 50p coins currently in circulation are:
- Atlantic Salmon (2023), 200,000
- Kew Gardens (2009), 210,000
- Olympic Football (2011), 1,125,500
- Olympic Wrestling (2011), 1,129,500
- Olympic Judo (2011), 1,161,500
- Olympic Triathlon (2011), 1,163,500
- Peter Rabbit (2018), 1,400,000
- Flopsy Bunny (2018), 1,400,000
- Olympic Tennis (2011), 1,454,000
- Olympic Goalball (2011), 1,615,500
Although the Atlantic Salmon 50p is scarcer than the Kew Gardens coin, it appears the latter holds a higher value. Specialists reckon a 2009 Kew Gardens 50 pence piece is worth around £120.
