It needs to feature a specific design and date to be particularly valuable
An expert has urged Brits to look out for a specific coin that could be especially valuable to collectors. This seemingly ordinary 50 pence piece could be worth £250.
However, the coin needs to feature a specific design and have been minted in a specific year to be particularly sought after. In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, an expert known as the Coin Collecting Wizard, shared exactly what to look for.
The piece in question was created to celebrate the 2012 London Olympics. It features the image of a high jumping athlete that was designed by a child as part of a Blue Peter competition.
However, it is only worth a lot of money if it is dated 2009. The same coin from 2011 is far more common and therefore not valuable.
“Just because you have this 50 p doesn’t automatically make it valuable,” the expert warned. “Always pay attention to the details on what to look for.
“Collectors are keen to get their hands on this piece of history and its nod to the classic children’s television show adds a personal stake to the value for many too. The rare coin features a picture showing an athlete in the Olympics as drawn and depicted by the young viewer back in 2009, but it’s only the one dated 2009 that has value worth around £250.”
He explained that around two million of the coins were minted in 2011, making them less sought after. “An earlier version of the coin was minted in 2009 and is much more valuable to collectors,” he said.
The coin is even more valuable if it comes in its collectible packaging. He added: “It helps when it comes with its original packaging that includes images of presenters from the hit show.
“It’s sold for £257 on eBay in the past, which makes it over 500 times more than face value. This is a sought after coin among collectors. Good luck finding this very special 50p.”
On its website, the Britannia Coin Company shared more about the creation of the design, referencing the 2011 version of the coin. It said: “The designs for this collection were selected from 30,000 designs submitted by the public as part of a competition – the design for the the athletics coin is slightly different however, as it was chosen as part of a Blue Peter competition.
“The 2011 Athletics 50p, also known as the ‘High Jump 50p’, was chosen from 17,000 entries from children to the Blue Peter competition. Nine-year-old Florence Jackson won the competition and is the first ever child to have designed a UK coin from The Royal Mint. The reverse of the 2011 Athletics 50p displays Jackson’s design of a high jumper jumping over a horizontal bar, the 2012 Summer Olympics logo above and ’50 PENCE’ below.”