Do you own the UK’s rarest 50p piece? And it’s not Kew Gardens.
Last week a 50p coin that many thousands of people have found in their daily pocket change started to be sold on e-Bay for prices upward of £100.00. Or to put it another way, 200 times its actual value!
Only 109,000 1992 EC 50p were issued into circulation – roughly half of the Kew Gardens 50p.
It was all because the Royal Mint announced that the Kew Gardens 50p coins is the UK’s most scarce circulation coin, with just 210,000 pieces ever been placed into circulation. The result was a media storm and the inevitable overnight ramping of prices.
Half the circulation of the Kew Gardens 50p
But what few people realise is that there is an even rarer UK 50p piece that was issued in half the number of the Kew Gardens coin – just 109,000 coins.
The coin was issued in 1992 to mark the EC Single Market and the UK presidency of the Council of Ministers – perhaps not the most popular of topics, which maybe was the reason so very few were pushed out into circulation. But of course, its lack of popularity at the time, is the very thing that now makes its Britain’s rarest 50p coin.
Sadly, however hard you search, unlike the Kew Gardens 50p, you will not find this one in your change. That’s because it is one of the old-sized 50p coins that were demonetised in 1998.
The coin itself was designed by Mary Milner Dickens and pictures the UK’s place at the head of the Council of Ministers’ conference table. The stars represent each of the nations’ capital cities placed in their relative geographical position.
But it won’t be the coin’s clever design that will guarantee its numismatic interest for years to come. It is its status as the UK’s most rare circulation 50p is what will intrigue collectors and have them searching and saving up in years to come.
Are you interested in owning the UK’s rarest 50p coin?
The 1992 EC Single Market 50p
Limited stocks of the 1992 EC 50p coin are available from The Westminster Collection for £20.
NOW SOLD OUT
I have two benjaminbritten 2013 are they worth anything? I also have a few 2014 the king needs you 2.00 coins?
Hello, is there a website to show us how many coins are claimed by banks?
Nothing that we’re aware of, I’m afraid.
Hi.can you tell me why there is such a dramatic difference in the price for the Benjamin Britten 50p.someon eBay are £1 others £1k upwards.what makes them siding fervent in price.
Hi Elise, I’ve just gone and had a look at Ebay myself – very odd. I don’t know why this coin attracts such crazy prices – but I don’t think any of them are selling. It is just a standard issue Royal Mint 50p, it’s worth close to its face value. It entered circulation very late in the year so perhaps that’s why people think its unusual. I think some people are just trying their luck! Thanks, Robin.
I have a benjamin britten 50p is it rare and how much is it worth?
Hi Gary, the Benjamin Britten 50p is probably worth close to or just above its face value, depending on condition and whether someone needs it for their collection. 5.3 million were struck. You can see some more details on our sister site Change Checker here: http://www.changechecker.org/coin/140/50p-Benjamin-Britten.aspx Thanks, Robin.
Hi I have a Benjamin Britten 2013 50p coin I want to sell. Do u no where I could sell it please
Hi Suzanne, Ebay is probably your best bet – or you could swap it for another 50p at http://www.changechecker.org if you wanted! Thanks, Robin.
I have a benjamin britten 2013 50p coin, what is it worth and where can I sell it?
Hi there, it’s probably worth just over its face value, depending on condition and if you can find someone who needs it for their collection. You could always try listing it on ebay or why not swap it for another coin on http://www.changechecker.org? Thanks, Robin.
I have a Lord Kitchener Your Country Needs You £2 coin from 2014 and I found one exactly the same selling on eBay for £2,500. After seeing that I’m interested in selling mine but I don’t know if it’s value will rise or what price to sell it for
I have a Limited edition: Benjamin Britten 50p – UK Rare coin iv been it on ebay for £999.00
I don’t know if you are able to help me however i have a 50p coin dated 1997 but there is a stamp on it of the letter G.
Is this anything or just random
Hi Sammi, I’ve never heard of this before – have you got a picture? Sounds very unusual. I suggest posting a picture on our sister site Change Checker’s Facebook page, they might be able to help. http://www.facebook.com/changechecker Thanks! Robin.
Would love to know of valuable modern coins, eg: 50p and £3 . Any easily readable list ? Xx
Hi Ros, value can differ due to factors like condition so that’s difficult to pin down, but Change Checker produced a list of the top 10 rarest coins in circulation for the £2, £1, 50p and Olympic 50p series – you can see it here: http://blog.changechecker.org/2015/07/22/ultimate-guide-the-top-10-rarest-coins-in-circulation/