2009 Kew Gardens 50p

How much is a Kew Gardens 50p worth?

The 2009 Kew Gardens 50p is the rarest fifty pence coin in general circulation and sells for hundreds of pounds.

What’s it worth today?

We have seen recent average selling prices on eBay for a circulated Kew Garden 50p coin of from £150 to £195.

Check our 50p coin prices page for prices of all coins.

Where to buy?

Right Now on eBay

	2009 Genuine Kew Gardens 50p Coin In Very Good Circulated Condition. £175.00 View on eBay
	Genuine 2009 Kew Gardens. UK 50p Fifty Pence. Circulated Condition. £150.00 View on eBay
	2009 Kew Gardens 50p Genuine Circulated (I) £164.00 View on eBay
	Genuine 2009 Kew Gardens 50p Coin - In Presentation Case, From Circulation. £179.89 View on eBay
	Genuine 2009 Kew Gardens. UK 50p Fifty Pence. Circulated Condition. £190.00 View on eBay
	2009 Genuine Kew Gardens 50p Coin In Very Good Circulated Condition. £195.00 View on eBay
	Original Genuine Kew Gardens 50p 2009 Circulated Coin In Great Condition £167.00 View on eBay
	2009 Kew Gardens 50p Genuine Circulated (H) £164.00 View on eBay
	2009 Kew Gardens 50p Coin Genuine Circulated £150.00 View on eBay

Recent Sold Prices

eBay shows sold items prices on a genuine 2009 Kew Gardens 50p are;

• CIRCULATED coin price: Expect to pay at least £145. Over £200 for a lightly circulated example.
• BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED coin BU price: expect to pay around £250
• SILVER PROOF coin price: expect to pay £350

The super-rare SILVER PIEDFORT edition appears to have sold in November 2019 for £420.

2 x 2009 Royal Mint Kew Gardens Piedfort 50p Fifty Pence Silver Proof Coin PCGS PR69 sold for £749.95 in December 2016.

The Baby set recently sold for £620

There are many Kew Gardens 50p coins for sale right now on eBay. Check listing titles and descriptions very carefully. Ask the eBay seller directly for confirmation of condition and if it is a genuine 2009 circulated coin.

In January 2021 the genuine 2009 circulated Kew Gardens 50p value hit £200 according to a sold listing on eBay.co.uk

More recently the price for a genuine 2009 circulated coin seems to have fallen back to the £160 to £175 price range depending upon condition.

Kew Gardens 50p Value

The 2009 Kew Gardens 50p value depends upon the condition as well as the fact that it is the rarest 50p coin that can be found in your pocket change in the UK.

Kew Gardens 50p sells for £8,000?

eBay UK shows a sold item listing in May of 2022 that suggests a Kew Gardens 50p coin sold for £8,000 with 63 bids. You can see the listing here kew gardens 50p genuine 2009 uncirculated 100% REAL COIN

There are strong indicators that this coin is not a “100% REAL COIN” if you look at the listing images. The Queen’s head clearly shows “IRB COPY” which means it’s a fake coin!

Please use our site to educate yourself on the Kew Gardens fifty pence coins and their value before you bid online to purchase one.

2009 Coin Sets

Brilliant uncirculated and Silver Proof editions of the Kew Gardens 50 pence coin can be found in the 2009 coin sets released by The Royal Mint. Be aware that the mintage figures for some of the coin sets may be higher than that of the circulated coins, so they are not as rare.

Are the 2009 Kew Gardens coins rare?

The Kew Gardens 50p is the rarest 50 pence coin you will find in general circulation with only 210,000 minted.

It was issued by The Royal Mint in 2009, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the foundation of Kew Gardens, Officially called The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew near London.

The Royal Mint published that there is reportedly 1 Kew Gardens 50 pence for every 300 people in the UK (or 0.32% of the population) so you may have to dig deep to find one!

Beware of fake coins, see below for more details.

The Kew Gardens 50 pence was issued in 2009 with a low mintage of just 210,000 coins making it the rarest current sized 50p coin in UK general circulation.

This coin was re-released in 2019 by The Royal Mint as part of a 50 Years of the 50p Coin Set

How many 2009 Kew Gardens 50p coins were minted?

210,000 coins were put in general circulation. For the BU and proof coin mintage figures, see the table below.

2009 Kew Gardens 50p Mintage Figures

Base Metal (Cupro-nickel 75% copper, 25% nickel)

• Total Mintage: 475,000 coins
• Circulated Coins Total Mintage: 210,000 coins
• Brilliant Uncirculated Coins Total Mintage: 220,000 coins
• Proof Coins Total Mintage:  45,000 coins

2009 Silver Coins (.925 Sterling Silver)

2009 Gold Coins (22-Carat Gold)

Data Source: royalmint.com

2009 Circulated Coins

The image below is what the original 2009 Kew Gardens 50 pence coin should look like.

The design shows the pagoda at Kew encircled by a vine and accompanied by the dates “1759” and “2009”, with the word “KEW” at the base of the pagoda.

In 2009 the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew marked its 250th anniversary as a botanical garden and The Royal Mint was proud to join in the celebrations with a splendid commemorative design.

The reverse design, created by Christopher Le Brun RA, featured the famous Chinese Pagoda at Kew with a decorative leafy climber twining in and around the tower.

2009 Kew gardens Coin Specifications

The Royal Mint did not publish an image of the other side on their Official Page on The Royal Mint website.

2009 Brilliant Uncirculated Coins

2009 Kew Gardens 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Coin

Struck in cupro-nickel and designed by Christopher Le Brun RA, this commemorative 50p coin celebrates the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

It features the Chinese Pagoda surrounded by the dates 1759 and 2009.

The colourful pack tells the rich history of the Gardens and the architecture at Kew as well as the inspiration behind choosing the famous Pagoda as the centerpiece for the reverse design of the coin.

Displayed in a colourful presentation folder

Real Coin Example:

• Limited edition of 50,000 coins
• Product Code: UKKGBU
• Issue Price: £6.80

2009 Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Set

• Limited edition of 100,000 sets
• Displayed in an informative presentation folder
• Struck to a higher quality than the coins in your pocket
• Product Code: DU09
• Issue Price: £19.53

2009 Baby Gift Set

2009 United Kingdom Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Collection Baby Gift Set includes a BU Kew Gardens 50p.

Struck to Brilliant Uncirculated standard, the 11 legal tender UK coins, including three commemorative designs for 2009, are beautifully presented in a colourful and informative presentation folder. The set is protected by an illustrated outer slipcase with an innovative cut-out that allows you to display the coins

.

• Limited Edition: 50,000 sets
• Displayed in a beautiful presentation folder
• Struck to a higher quality than the coins in your pocket
• Includes 3 new commemorative coins for 2009
• Struck to Brilliant Uncirculated quality
• The 1st time that new definitive coins appear in a set with commemorative coin issues
• Specially designed folder with space for baby’s birth details and family tree
• Product Code: DU09BP
• Issue Price: £19.99

2009 Baby Gift Set worth?

You are probably wondering how much is the 2009 Baby Gift Set worth today?

Here is the most recent eBay sold listing we could find, selling for £620 with 61 bids:

2009 Baby Gift Set Real Coins

2009 Kew Gardens Philatelic Numismatic Cover

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, with this limited-edition coin and stamp pack issued by the Royal Mint in conjunction with Royal Mail.

It is referred to as the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p PNC

• • Presented within a specially designed folder that tells the rich history of the Gardens
  • Designed by Christopher Le Brun RA, the coin features the Chinese Pagoda surrounded by the year dates 1759 and 2009
  • Accompanied by four commemorative stamps, each featuring an architectural masterpiece located at Kew Gardens

• Limited Edition: 20,000 covers
• Struck to Brilliant Uncirculated standard, a higher standard than the coins found in your pocket
• Presented within a specially designed folder that tells the rich history of the Gardens
• The perfect gift for those with a keen interest in the Royal Botanic Gardens, its architecture or simply anyone who may love gardening.
• Accompanied by four commemorative stamps, each featuring an architectural masterpiece located at Kew Gardens
• Product Code: UKKGPNC
• Issue Price: £15.45

2009 Proof Coins

2009 Proof Set

• Limited Edition: 20,000 sets
• Certificate of Authenticity, Accompanied by an informative booklet
• Displayed in an attractive case featuring the Royal Mint emblem on the cover
• Product Code: D09
• Issue Price: £39.10

2009 Proof Set – Deluxe Edition

• Limited Edition: 15,000 sets
• Displayed in a sumptuous black leather case
• Struck to superior Proof quality
• Product Code: D09DX
• Issue Price: £48.89

2009 Proof Set – Executive Edition

• Limited Edition: 5,000 sets
• Displayed in a luxurious walnut-veneer presentation case
• Struck to superior Proof quality
• Product Code: D09E
• Issue Price: £78.25

2009 40th Anniversary 50p Base Proof Collection

Limited Edtion: 5,000 sets

Celebrating 40 years of the 50p

2009 Kew Gardens 50p Silver Coins

2009 Kew Gardens 50p Silver Proof Coin

Presented in a black presentation case

Struck in sterling silver to Proof quality

accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity

• Limited Edition: 7,500 coins
• Product Code: UKKGSP
• Issue Price: £29.99

2009 UK Kew Gardens 50p Piedfort Silver Proof Coin

• Limited Edition: 1,000 coins
• Struck in sterling silver to impeccable Proof quality
• Piedforts are double the weight and thickness of their standard counterparts, therefore contain twice the amount of fine silver
• The commemorative reverse features the famous Chinese pagoda as the centrepiece surrounded by plants that twine around the building
• The obverse features the current portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBSThe coin is beautifully presented in an elegant presentation case and is accompanied by an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity, attesting to the low issue limit of just 1,000
• Housed in an elegant presentation case
• Product code: UKKGCPF
• Issue Price: £54.95

2009 Four Coin Piedfort Silver Proof Collection

example Coins:

example COA

• Limited Edition: 2,500 sets
• Product Code: UK09PF4S
• Issue Price: £255.00

Beautifully presented in an elegant display case, all four silver UK coins in the Piedfort collection are struck to glorious Proof quality and feature outstanding reverse designs.

The collection comprises the £5 coin celebrating the 500th anniversary of the accession of Henry VIII, two £2 coins celebrating the anniversaries of the births of Robert Burns and Charles Darwin, together with a 50p piece marking the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

• Double the weight and thickness of their standard UK counterparts
• All four Piedfort coins have been struck in sterling silver to Proof quality
• The £2 coins have been plated with .999 fine gold on their outer rings
• Each collection is beautifully presented in a luxurious black display case

Accompanied by a full-colour booklet that incorporates an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

2009 UK 40th Anniversary 50p Silver Proof Collection

16 x Silver Proof 50p Collection

example COA

Limited Edition: 2,500 sets

2009 UK Silver Proof Set

• Limited Edition: 7,500 sets

Struck in sterling silver the 12 Proof coins have been produced with meticulous care by skilled craftsmen at the Royal Mint.

Having been struck at least three times, these are supreme examples of the art of minting.

The coins feature the new designs by Matthew Dent which make up the distinctive shape of the shield of the Royal Arms.

Individually encapsulated the set is housed in a stylish black case and accompanied by a beautifully illustrated booklet, incorporating a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Contains the four commemorative coins for 2009 as well as the definitive coins from the 1p to the £2 all struck in silver Proof quality

• The informative booklet provides insight into the new designs and how they were chosen and also incorporates a numbered Certificate of Authenticity
• Product Code: D09SP
• Issue Price: £295.00

2009 UK Family Silver Proof Collection

Limited Edtion: 1,500 sets

The Family Silver Collection of 2009 comprises six beautiful UK coins struck to superior Proof standard housed in a stylish black display case.

An informative booklet, which includes an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity, completes the presentation.

This set is limited to only 1,500 and each one has an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

• Produce Code: UK09FSPS
• Issue Price: £199.99

2009 Kew Gardens 50p Gold Coins

2009 Kew Gardens 50p Gold Proof Coin

Beautifully presented in a walnut-veneer presentation case

Low issue limit of just 1,000 coins struck in 22-carat gold to Proof quality

Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity

• Product Code: UKKGGP
• Issue Price: £550.00

Although the maximum coin mintage for the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p Gold Proof coin was set to 1,000 coins, The Royal Mint website indicates that only 629 gold coins were sold.

2009 Kew Gardens Gold Proof Coin sells for £2,000

In June 2022 eBay users had a rare chance to bid on one of the 2009 Kew gardens 50p gold proof coins, After 19 bids on the listing, the winner paid £2,000 for this rare coin.

see the eBay listing

2009 UK 50p Gold Proof Collection

The 2009 UK 40th Anniversary 50p Gold Proof Collection has 16 coins all dated 2009.

Limited Edition: 125 sets

The 2009 Royal Mint 16 coin gold proof fifty pence piece collection was issued to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 50p piece.

Each one of the 16 gold coins depicts a different design, one for each of the reverses used from 1969 to 2009.

Coin Designs

• 1969 onwards – Seated Britannia x2
• 1973 – EEC Hands
• 1992-1993 – UK Presidency EEC
• 1994 – D-Day Landings
• 1998 – NHS
• 1998 – EEC Anniversary
• 2000 – British Libraries
• 2003  – Suffragettes
• 2004 – 4 Minute Mile
• 2005 – Samuel Johnson Dictionary
• 2006 – Heroic Acts
• 2006 – Victoria Cross
• 2007 – Scouts
• 2008 – Royal Shield of Arms
• 2009 – Kew Gardens

Only 125 sets were issued by the Royal Mint.

Each coin weighs 15.5 grams and is made of 22-carat gold.

All 16 coins are housed in their original Royal Mint presentation case, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

2009 UK 50p Gold Proof Piedfort Collection

Minted to celebrate 40 years of the 50p coin from 1969 to 2009.

Example COA reverse

Limited Edition: 40 sets

The 16 Gold Piedfort Coins Include:

• 1969 – Seated Figure of Britannia New Pence
• 1973 Ring of Hands – Britain’s Entry to EEC
• 1992-1993 Britain’s Presidency of EEC
• 1994 Remembered D-Day Landings
• 1997 Seated Figure of Britannia
• 1998 NHS 50th Anniversary
• 1998 EEC 25th Anniversary
• 2000 Public Libraries
• 2003 Suffragette Centenary
• 2004 Four Minute Mile
• 2005 First English Dictionary
• 2006 Victoria Cross Heroic Acts
• 2006 Victoria Cross Award
• 2007 Scouting Centenary
• 2008 Matthew Dent Royal Shield of Arms
• 2009 Kew Gardens Pagoda

Why does the Kew Gardens 50p have value?

What makes it special is that it has such a low mintage figure, compared to more normal UK coins.

Only 210,000 coins were minted by The Royal Mint.

This coin is worth 50 pence at face value (it is a legal currency so you can spend it in a shop). Most noteworthy is the low production numbers by The Royal Mint in 2009, this makes the coin rare and collectible by coin enthusiasts.

As a result, we have seen the price continue to rise as rare 50p fever hit the British Isles following a press release by The Royal mint announcing the Kew 50p as the rarest commemorative UK coin design to be released into current circulation.

The Kew Gardens 50p value depends upon which version of the coin you have (base, silver, silver piedfort or gold) and above all, what condition it is in (circulated, brilliant uncirculated or proof).

Therefore even well-circulated coins are selling fast on eBay as British Numismatists and casual coin collectors snap them up.So check your change, your kids piggy bank and under the mattress for any version of this coin as you will be quids in!

In the news

Here are some UK newspaper articles on the Kew 50p coin:

• These five 50p coin designs are worth up to £3,000 – thesun.co.uk
• Could your small change be worth a fortune? The £50 Kew Gardens 50p and other valuable coins – mirror.co.uk
• Check your change: Here are four 50p coin designs worth up to £3,000 – metro.co.uk
• The 10 most expensive coins in the world: in pictures – telegraph.co.uk

Fake coins?

Buyer Beware!

It has been reported that FAKE versions of the coin have been seen for sale, so study the images very closely before you make any purchase decisions.

Some Sellers are being honest about it so look for the words “COPY”, “SOUVENIR” and “FAKE” in the eBay listing, if you are happy to pay a small amount for a fake one that’s OK as long as you know what you are getting for your money.

We are not sure how it is possible for people to be openly selling fake UK currency, the Kew Gardens 50 pence is after all, legal tender in the UK which is why you may find one in your pocket change.

How can you tell if a Kew Gardens 50p is real?

There are 7 different known fake designs found to date. Look for the following characteristics:

• Too shiny – Circulated coins look like they have been in someone’s pocket change for years with dings and scratches, a fake coin may look brand new as wear and tear are hard to fake.
• Too cheap – if it is less than £100 then it is most likely fake and circulated coins are fetching in excess of £150. So why sell one for a few pounds?
• Silver, Piedfort or Gold? buy one if a box and ask the seller for the COA (Certificate of Authenticity), a small numbered document issued by The Royal Mint when they originally sold the coin.
• Under the Queen’s head, study the initials “IRB” – if the lettering is too large or says “IRB COPY”
• Check the eBay Item Description, not just the Title, for the word “COPY”, “SOUVENIR”, “FILLER” “COMPLETER” or “FAKE”
• The Queen’s eyes badly formed
• Queen’s neck pointing towards the “E” (in PENCE), it should point towards the “P”
• No lines either side of KEW
• Frosted appearance

If you compare a couple of different sales listings you should be able to see the differences.

What is the Pagoda?

The Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens was completed in 1762.

This 10-storey octagonal structure is almost 50 metres high and is one of Kew Gardens’ landmark buildings, visible for miles around!

In 1759 Princess Augusta devoted a few acres of her gardens at Kew to a ‘Physic Garden’ where rare and unusual plants were cultivated for study. It was the beginning of Kew’s destiny as a world leader in plant science.

Christopher Le Brun was born in Portsmouth in 1951. He studied at the Slade School of Fine Art (DFA) in London from 1970-74 and at Chelsea School of Art (MA) from 1974-75.

Christopher Le Brun decided to choose the Chinese pagoda as he feels:

‘Like the London Red Bus, the Kew Gardens Pagoda is an instantly recognisable symbol and rather to be cherished for that reason. So I decided not to resist such a strong image but rather to enjoy drawing it. The tower’s identity and perpendicular clarity is very useful in a design ‘I had the idea early on that plants should twine around and grow up through the tower.’

The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew

The gardens were originally two royal Estates – the Kew Estate and the Richmond Estate – but were combined by George III in the late eighteenth century.

In the summer of 1771 the king met Joseph Banks who had just returned to England from a voyage with James Cook.

His collection of plants and animals and portfolios impressed the king and their mutual interest in agriculture led to Banks presiding over the Royal Society for 42 years. He was also an active member of many other influential societies and was admired for his entrepreneurial skills.

Through his patronage and many initiatives Banks elevated Kew to a garden of national status and as a centre for botanical exploration in the colonies. Kew Gardens was handed to the nation in 1841.

During its long history as a royal estate and a government institution, Kew has never lacked patrons or supporters. In recognition of its historic landscape, listed buildings, Herbarium and Library collections, and its achievements in plant conservation, UNESCO awarded it World Heritage status in 2003.

50 Years of the 50p – British Culture Set

The 50 Years of the 50p British Culture Coin Set –  contains a 2019-dated Kew Gardens 50p.