An expert explained how to spot the specific error that makes it so valuable
Brits have been told to look out for a 50p coin that could be worth more than 80 times its face value. This coin, from 2017, has sold in the past for as much as £40.
But why is it so valuable? It’s all to do with a specific error that could be hard to spot.
In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, an expert called the Coin Collecting Wizard told his followers about the Benjamin Bunny 50 pence piece.
The coin was part of a set of four released in 2017 to honour Beatrix Potter’s legacy, which also includes Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten, and Jeremy Fisher. But the Benjamin Bunny coin stands out due to a minting mishap.
This error results in Queen Elizabeth II appearing to face the wrong direction. The coin expert said: “Did you know if your Benjamin Bunny 50p has a rotation error, then it’s worth a lot more than 50 pence?
“So you know what to look for, this 50p error coin is rare all because a part of the design is facing the wrong way.” He explained: “The error that’s left the Queen’s head in a different direction, on the obverse, to the design of Benjamin Bunny on the reverse will have happened in the minting process.
“When you flip it round, the Queen should be facing up the same way as Benjamin Bunny. If the Queen is facing any other way, then you have found a very rare rotation error worth money.”
This coin is still in circulation so it could be hiding in your change. “Error coins are still legal tender, so long as the original coin is still in circulation too,” he continued.
“That means you could easily come across one in your change. Oftentimes, error coins will sell for a lot more than their face value.
“So this is definitely something you need to be looking for as it can be easily missed. So next time you come across the Benjamin Bunny 50p, flip that rabbit over and check the Queen. Good luck.”
Last year, The Sun highlighted a case where one of these coins fetched £40 – a whopping 80 times its face value of 50p. And in 2021, another coin from the same batch was reportedly snapped up for an eye-watering £255 on eBay.
At the time of reporting, a graded edition of this coin was listed on eBay for £312.72.