What are the rare 50p coins in the UK?
There are several rare 50p coins in circulation.
It’s worth noting that the rarity and value of a coin can depend on a number of factors, including its age, condition, and the demand for it among collectors. Some rare coins may be worth more than others, even if they were minted in larger quantities. If you’re interested in collecting coins, it’s always a good idea to do your research and understand the market before making a purchase.
These are just a few examples of rare 50p coins in circulation in the UK. It’s worth noting that the rarity of a coin can often be subjective, and the value of a coin can also be influenced by factors such as its condition, rarity, and demand.
It’s difficult to determine the “best” coins to collect from the Royal Mint, as this is largely a matter of personal preference and depends on an individual’s interests and collecting goals.
However, here are a few things to consider when choosing coins to collect from the Royal Mint:
- Rarity: Some coins are rarer than others, which can make them more valuable and sought after by collectors. The Royal Mint occasionally releases limited edition coins or coins with low mintage numbers, which can be more difficult to find and may be more desirable to collectors.
- Condition: The condition of a coin can significantly affect its value. Coins that are in excellent condition with no visible wear or damage are generally more valuable than those that are well-worn or damaged.
- Design: Some collectors may be more interested in coins with unique or interesting designs, such as those that commemorate a historical event or feature a particularly striking image.
- Demand: Demand for certain coins can also influence their value. Coins that are in high demand among collectors may be more valuable than those that are not as sought after.
Ultimately, the best coins to collect will depend on your personal interests and collecting goals. You may want to consider collecting coins that are rare, in excellent condition, have interesting designs, and are in high demand among collectors.
Which Rare 50p coins are worth money?
This is a list of rare 50p coins worth money.
See our 50p coin values page for all fifty pence coin values.
50P Coin Rarity Chart
See above our fifty pence coin rarity chart that shows circulating coins in order of scarcity with circulating mintage and average sold price on eBay UK in the past three months.
This graphic is Copyright UKcoins.co.uk and may be used for personal use. Here is a PDF version of our Rare 50p Coins List for you to download and save to your computer or mobile device. Full attribution and link back to this page is required for commercial use. The image cannot be altered.
Rare 50p Coins
Rare 50p Coin Values
What are the 10 most rare and valuable 50p coins?
Rare 50p coins are rarer than they used to be. Find out why! Collecting rare 50p coins we’ll show you where to start and what to look out for.
1. Salmon 50p
- Collector Value: £110.00
- Mintage: 200,000
The Salmon 50p is the new king of fifty pence coins since the Royal Mint revealed the mintage figures for this coin in October 2024. This is now the rarest coin in UK circulation, beating the Kew gardens 50p which held this spot for 15 years since its release in 2009.
2. Kew Gardens
- Value: £140.00
- Mintage: 210,000
The Kew Gardens 50p remains the rarest and most sought-after coin in circulation. The Kew Garden’s 50p was designed to mark the 250th anniversary of the gardens in 2009 and only 210,000 coins were put into general circulation in the UK.
With only 210,000 minted, it’s by far the rarest fifty pence and worth hundreds of pounds to UK coin collectors.
As fewer genuine 2009 Kew coins remain in circulation, the value of this coin has been increasing.
3. Football 50p
- Value: £12.00
- Mintage: 1,125,500
The Football 50p is also known as the offside-rule coin. It was issued in 2011 as part of the London 2012 Olympic 50p coins.
4. Wrestling 50p
- Value: £7.00
- Mintage: 1,129,500
The Wrestling 50p is the second-lowest mintage Olympic 50p in circulation.
It is the rarest Olympic 50p coin with only 1.1 million coins put into circulation.
5. Judo 50p
- Value: £9.00
- Mintage: 1,161,500
The Judo 50p coin by designer David Cornell is a popular fifty pence to collect with 1,161,500 coins put into circulation in 2011.
6. Triathlon 50p
- Value: £10.50
- Mintage: 1,163,500
London 2012 Olympic Triathlon fifty pence by Sarah Harvey.
7. 2018 Peter Rabbit 50p
- Value: £4.50
- Mintage: 1,400,000
Are Peter Rabbit 50p coins rare? The 2018 issue of the Peter Rabbit 50p is one of the rarest as Beatrix Potter fifty pence coins with 1.4 million coins released. One of four Beatrix Potter coins for 2018.
8. Flopsy Bunny 50p
- Value: £4.50
- Mintage: 1,400,000
Also issued in 2018, the Flopsy Bunny 50p is a favourite for UK coin collectors and Beatrix Potter fans.
9. Tennis 50p
- Value: £2.50
- Mintage: 1,454,000
London 2012 Olympic Tennis fifty pence by Tracy Baines.
10. Goalball 50p
- Value: £2.00
- Mintage: 1,615,500
London 2012 Olympic Goalball fifty pence by Jonathan Wren.
Other low-mintage coins of note are the Mrs. Tittlemouse 50p at 1.7 million coins, Sir Isaac Newton 50p at 1.8 million coins, and finally the Jemima Puddle-Duck 50p at 2.1 million coins.
Rare 50p Coin Values
The value of coins is hugely dependent upon rarity and condition.
Even a rare coin in poor condition will be greatly devalued so always make a close inspection of any coins to determine their worth and authenticity. There are many fakes in circulation.
Prices on this page are from our research of sold coin listings on eBay and other resale sites. Prices are averages and for general guidance only and should not be used as a valuation of any individual coin. Do your research to check current values before selling any coins.
The base metal will also affect price, with silver and gold-proof coins selling for a premium.
Check our page for the rare 50p coin values of all base metal 50p coins in circulation. We also have a rare two-pound coins list.
Where Can I Find Them?
Rare 50p Coins are the most collected coins from general circulation in the UK by British coin collectors.
Some fifty pence coins have a low mintage figure making them rare coins that are hard to find in your pocket change.
Fifty pence coins are produced in their millions by the Royal Mint, which sends them to UK banks and Post Offices which put them into general circulation.
In recent years, The Royal Mint has increasingly issued coins as “commemoratives only” meaning they can only be purchased on the Royal Mint website or in after-market platforms such as eBay. These are commonly referred to as BUNC coins (brilliant Uncirculated).
Use our UK 50p Coin Finder APP to easily find the 50p coins you are looking to add to your collection.
Rare 50p 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 all the rarest fifty pence coins in circulation by their scarcity index.
The following are the most sought-after 50p coins.
Aquatics 50p
Probably the most valuable fifty pence is the 2012 Olympic Aquatics 50p, with lines going across the swimmer’s face.
We recently saw one of these coins on eBay showing as sold for £1,850
This is the first release of this coin before The Royal Mint released a new version with the lines removed from the swimmer’s face. Only 600 of the original design were put into circulation, and some may have been destroyed by shopkeepers thinking they were worthless after the new design was issued.
Aquatics 50p fake/copy coins
Since it attracts such a high price, be aware that there are many fakes of this coin being sold online.
Check for original packaging and ask the seller to confirm it is a genuine example.
Since this coin was sold in shops in a commemorative swing bag on a cardholder, you are extremely unlikely to find this one in your purse.
Kew Gardens 50p
The most loved fifty pence coin in circulation is the Kew Gardens 50p, issued in 2009.
Most coins are issued in the millions however the Kew Gardens 50p has a mintage figure of just 210,000 coins, making it the second rarest fifty pence in general circulation.
Worth more than £150 for a 2009 genuine example, this coin also has many fakes on eBay. It was also reissued by The Royal Mint as a commemorative-only coin in 2019, so check the date on the back. The re-issued coin is not rare or as valuable.
Beware of fake/copy coins. Some of these are reported to have entered UK coin circulation. A genuine circulated coin should show signs of wear and not be overly shiny.
Visit the Kew Gardens website for details of the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Football 50p
The Football 50p is part of the twenty-nine fifty pence coins issued to celebrate the London Olympics in 2012.
Also known as “the offside rule” coin, this fifty pence has the lowest mintage of the set with just one million coins minted. It’s quite curious that someone decided to make this the rarest Olympic coin for a footy-loving nation like England where it would be the one most people would probably buy.
Wrestling, Judy, and Triathlon coins follow close behind with similar low mintages of around 1 million coins.
The Olympic 50p coin series is credited with starting the craze in the UK of commemorative coin hunting.
Blue Peter 50p
Another rare fifty pence is the Blue Peter 50p. The children’s TV show Blue Peter held a competition to design one of the Olympic Coins and a small number were issued in Blue Peter packaging. Interestingly, the coin was dated 2009 when all the other Olympic coins carry the date 2011.
We recently saw this coin on eBay selling for over £350 in its original packaging.
Beatrix Potter 50p coins
The first release of Beatrix Potter’s fifty pence coins in 2016 started a new craze of fifty pence coin collectors.
One of the rarest fifty pence coins to find in the Beatrix Potter list is Jemima Puddle-Duck. with just over two million coins minted
The 2018 Peter Rabbit fifty pence and 2018 Flopsy Bunny coins, each has a mintage figure of one million four hundred thousand, whilst only 1.7 million Mrs. Tittlemouse coins were issued.
Rare 50p coins on eBay
Be very careful when buying “rare” 50p coins on eBay and other online sales platforms. A lot of sellers will put the word “rare” into their sales listings just to get better search results.
We often see titles stuffed with “not kew gardens”, as click-bait just to get better views.
Always read the title and item description.
Watch the Rare 50p Coins video on YouTube
Where to sell rare coins?
The most popular places to sell rare coins in the UK are either eBay UK or Facebook coin groups.
You can check eBay sold prices for recent sales of your coin to check the latest prices.
The Facebook coin groups usually have to post guides such as putting your name and date in the picture next to your coins so read the rules before posting your coins for sale.
Collecting Tips and Strategies for 50p Coins
50p coins may seem like small change, but they can be a rewarding and interesting collectible. Here are some tips and strategies for building a valuable collection of 50p coins:
- Know your market: To collect 50p coins effectively, it’s important to know what coins are available, what they look like, and how much they are worth. This will help you spot good deals and avoid overpaying for coins. You can find information on 50p coins on this website and at the Royal Mint, Also numismatic forums, Facebook Groups and online marketplaces.
- Focus on rarity and condition: The most valuable 50p coins are often the rarest ones, and the condition of the coin will also affect its value. To build a valuable collection, focus on coins that are rare and in excellent condition. You can get coins graded and authenticated by a professional to help determine their condition and value.
- Join a coin club or community: Collecting 50p coins can be more fun and rewarding when you join a club or community of like-minded collectors. You can learn from experienced collectors, share tips and knowledge, and even trade coins with other collectors.
- Stay up to date: The market for 50p coins is constantly changing and the Royal Mint releases new coins often.
Overview of the design and themes of different 50p coins
50p coins are a popular collectible in the UK, and they feature a wide range of designs and themes. Here is an overview of the design and themes of different 50p coins:
- Commemorative coins: Many 50p coins are issued to commemorate important events or people. These coins often feature designs related to the theme of the coin, such as a portrait of the person being commemorated or an image related to the event. Examples of commemorative 50p coins include the Kew Gardens 50p, which was issued to mark the 250th anniversary of Kew Gardens, and the Beatrix Potter 50p, which was issued to mark the 150th anniversary of Potter’s birth.
- Olympic coins: The UK has issued a series of 50p coins to mark each Olympic Games since 1988. These coins often feature designs related to the theme of the games, such as a sportsman or sportswoman in action or a symbol of the games. Examples of Olympic 50p coins include the Olympic Football 50p, which was issued to mark the London Olympics in 2012, and the Olympic Swimming 50p, which was also issued to mark the London Olympics in 2012.
- Themed coins: Many 50p coins are issued with a specific theme, such as famous people or bands, science, or literature. These coins often feature designs related to the theme of the coin and may be released over multiple years..
- Limited Edition Presentations: The Royal Mint also issues series of special edition 50p coins, which feature unique finishes or themes. These coins are often more valuable than standard 50p coins due to their rarity and uniqueness. Examples of special edition 50p coins include the Royal Mint’s “Coloured” series, which features 50p coins with coloured designs, and the Royal Mint’s “Gold” series, which features 50p coins plated in gold.
Overall, 50p coins feature a wide range of designs and themes, and there is something for every collector to enjoy. Whether you are interested in commemorative coins, Olympic coins, themed coins, or limited editions, there are many 50p coins to choose from.
Most UK coins are now collectable coins only and are not released into general circulation.