Just 200,000 of them were minted
Check your change – a 50p coin has sold for £112 after a bidding frenzy on eBay. The coin is from 2023 and features an Atlantic salmon, and coin collectors are scrambling to get their hands on it.
It secured a price tag well beyond its value in the eBay auction, selling for 224 times its face value. The special coin, one of the first to bear the likeness of King Charles III, is a big hit with collectors.
The Royal Mint says it’s even more hard to get hold of than the famed Kew Gardens 50p, with only 200,000 minted. In the world of coins, that’s not very many – and it’s actually the rarest 50p in active circulation.
The eBay seller listed their rare find on eBay under “2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p Coin – No Privy Mark – Very Rare” with a modest starting bid of 99p. A total of 18 hopefuls pushed the final selling price to £112, plus £3.49 for delivery for good measure, reports Plymouth Live.
The coin’s release had sparked plenty of interest in itself. Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint, said in late 2023 that the release of new figures on minted coins was an eagerly anticipated event among the coin collecting community.
She said at the time: “This year is particularly exciting as we reveal the Atlantic Salmon as the rarest 50p in circulation. For the first time in 15 years, the highly collectable Kew Gardens 50p loses its top spot as the rarest in circulation with the Atlantic Salmon 50p splashing its way to number one.
“2023 marked pivotal changes for the nation’s coinage, including the introduction of coins celebrating King Charles III’s coronation entering circulation. Finding these special designs, like the Atlantic Salmon, in your change is a win for all collectors.”
What’s so special about the Atlantic salmon 50p?
The Royal Mint website states: “His Majesty King Charles III’s 50p coin has been officially crowned as the rarest 50p in active circulation, following the latest mintage figures published by The Royal Mint. The coin depicting the Atlantic Salmon has knocked the highly collectable 2009 Kew Gardens 50p off the top spot for the first time, with just 200,000 released to UK banks and post offices at the end of last year.
“A total of 210,000 2009 Kew Gardens coins were released into circulation 15 years ago. As the nation’s most collectable coin, the 50p has seen over 100 different designs appear on its reverse (tails) since its introduction.
“These include special designs for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games and milestone Royal occasions such as His Majesty King Charles III coronation.
“2023 marked the final chapter of His Majesty King Charles III’s transition onto UK coins, with coins commemorating the coronation and new designs across all denominations from the 1p – £2. Each design highlights King Charles III’s passion for conservation and the natural world, featuring wildlife such as the hazel dormouse and bees.”