County Durham residents selling 50p coin for £20,000+:
The items, which are listed on eBay with a ‘buy it now’ price of around £20,000, have been seen over recent months, alongside others priced between £1,500 and £10,000.
One of the coins listed is a Victoria Cross 50 pence piece and is described as being ‘extremely rare’ by the seller, from County Durham.
The Victoria Cross 50p coin (Image: EBAY) The item description reads: “The rare 50p Victoria Cross coin is not just a piece of currency; it’s a unique collector’s item that celebrates bravery and heroism. Issued by the Royal Mint in 2006, this coin honours the Victoria Cross (29 January 2006), the highest military decoration awarded for acts of valour.”
Other rare coins from sellers in the region include Brexit 50p coins, Commonwealth Coins and Beatrix Potter 50p’s.
What makes a coin valuable?
The 50 pence piece has become the most valued and collected coin in the UK, with many collectable designs appearing on its heptagonal canvas.
Its 27.5mm diameter makes it the largest of any British coin, and allows space for decorative pictures. It has often been used to celebrate big events over the past 50 years of British history.
The rarest coins tend to be of the greatest value, with the mintage (number of coins with each design made) being the fundamental attraction for collectors.
Along with the design, other aspects of the coin which increase value are the condition of the coin and whether it has an error in its design.
The way in which it is sold can also determine the coin’s value – while some coin collectors will bid vast amounts of money on ebay or at auction, others opt for more robust valuations by selling via a coin dealer.
Royal Mint top 10 most valuable 50p coins
Here is a list of the top 10 most valuable coins, when they were made and how many were minted:
- Atlantic Salmon (2023), 200,000
- Kew Gardens (2009), 210,000
- Olympic Wrestling (2011), 1,129,500
- OlympicFootball(2011), 1,161,500
- 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
Queen Mother and Red Arrows feature on new Royal Mint coin designs for 2025
Five new coin designs for 2025, including those depicting the Red Arrows and and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, have been unveiled by the Royal Mint.
It is a first glimpse for collectors to see some designs which will appear on commemorative coins in 2025.
The Royal Mint’s 2025 annual set, which will be available next week, includes new designs for the 50p, £2 coin and £5 coin.
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Two 50p coins have been designed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first Red Arrows display, and to commemorate those who played a pivotal role in the Second World War.
And two £2 new coin designs will celebrate 200 years of the modern railway and the founding of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London.
A £5 coin has also been designed to celebrate the life and legacy of the Queen Mother.
The 2025 commemorative sets will be available in a range of precious metal and base proof finishes, from January 2 via the Royal Mint website, with prices starting from £39.50.
Each of the coins will be available individually during 2025.
*Just because a coin is listed for £20,000, doesn’t mean it necessarily sells for this price. A coin is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, and prices for rare 50p’s do differ.*