New Rarest 50p UK Coin
Salmon 50p
Atlantic Salmon fifty pence coin is now rarer than the Kew Gardens fifty pence coin. This relates to the CIRCULATED version (with no privy mark, and not the uncirculated or proof variants. Read our page on the new rarest 50p coin in the UK! Part of the 2023 Definitive Coin Set from The Royal Mint.
Want to get one? Let’s Go Salmon Fishing
FAQ: The New Rarest 50p Coin in the UK
1. What is the rarest 50p coin in circulation in the UK?
The Atlantic Salmon 50p coin, released in late 2023 to commemorate King Charles III’s Coronation year, has overtaken the Kew Gardens 50p as the rarest 50p coin in active circulation.
2. How many Atlantic Salmon 50p coins are there?
There are only 200,000 Atlantic Salmon 50p coins in circulation, making it even rarer than the Kew Gardens 50p, which had a mintage of 210,000.
3. Why is the Atlantic Salmon 50p coin so sought-after?
Its low mintage of only 200,000 coins has made it incredibly scarce, leading to high demand among collectors. As it was only released in 2023, there is a better likelihood of finding one in your change, vs. the Kew coin released in 2009.
4. How much is the Atlantic Salmon 50p coin worth?
The value of the Atlantic Salmon 50p is already “skyrocketing” according to experts. While values can fluctuate, online listings suggest it can fetch upwards of £100.
5. Where can I find an Atlantic Salmon 50p coin?
The best place to find one is in your own change! Be sure to check your coins carefully.
6. What should I do if I think I have an Atlantic Salmon 50p coin?
It’s best to consult with a reputable coin expert or dealer for appraisal and authentication. The circulated version does not have the Privy Mark on it.
7. What was the previous rarest 50p coin?
The Kew Gardens 50p coin, released in 2009, held the title of the rarest 50p coin for 15 years! These are very hard to find now as they are either in bad condition or not there at all as collectors have been taking them out of circulation and into private collections.
8. Why are rare coins valuable?
Rare coins are valuable due to their scarcity and the high demand from collectors. The lower the mintage of a coin, the more valuable it can become.
The Royal Mint revealed that the Salmon 50p coin featuring an Atlantic salmon and King Charles III’s portrait is now the rarest in circulation, with just 200,000 minted. This coin surpasses the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p, which held the title for 15 years. The release of 2023 mintage figures confirmed the limited number, 10,000 fewer than the Kew Gardens version. The 50p is a popular collector’s item, with over 100 designs, including commemorative ones from the London 2012 Olympics and King Charles’s coronation.
New 50p Coins
Mammoth 50p coins
What is the Steppe Mammoth 2024 UK 50p coin?
The Steppe Mammoth 2024 UK 50p coin is a commemorative coin released by The Royal Mint to celebrate the steppe mammoth, the largest mammal to live during the Ice Age. The coin features a scientifically and anatomically accurate design of the steppe mammoth, created in collaboration with the Natural History Museum and palaeobiologist Professor Adrian Lister.
What editions of the coin are available?
The Steppe Mammoth coin is available in a range of editions:
- Brilliant Uncirculated Coin: A standard uncirculated finish.
- Brilliant Uncirculated Colour Coin: A brilliant uncirculated coin with colour printing.
- Silver Proof Colour Coin: A silver proof coin with colour printing.
- Silver Proof Coin: A standard silver proof coin.
- Gold Proof Coin: A gold proof coin.
What are the different prices of the Steppe Mammoth coins?
Prices vary based on the edition:
- Brilliant Uncirculated Coin: £12.00
- Brilliant Uncirculated Colour Coin: £25.00
- Silver Proof Colour Coin: £75.00
- Silver Proof Coin: £65.00
- Gold Proof Coin: £1,355.00
Are there limited edition versions of the Steppe Mammoth coin?
Yes, several editions have limited availability:
- Brilliant Uncirculated Colour Coin: Limited to 10,000 pieces.
- Silver Proof Colour Coin: Limited to 2,500 pieces.
- Silver Proof Coin: Limited to 500 pieces.
- Gold Proof Coin: Limited to 35 pieces.
Where can I purchase a Steppe Mammoth coin?
You can purchase the Steppe Mammoth 2024 UK 50p coin directly from The Royal Mint’s website. The full collection is available under the “Ice Age Giants” range.
Is the design of the Steppe Mammoth coin scientifically accurate?
Yes, both the packaging and the coin’s reverse design were created in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, ensuring scientific accuracy. Palaeobiologist Professor Adrian Lister provided expert guidance for the project.
Why was the Steppe Mammoth chosen for this commemorative coin?
The steppe mammoth was chosen for this commemorative coin due to its significance as the largest mammal during the Ice Age. It serves as a reminder of these magnificent creatures and their role in natural history.
2024 Snowman 50p Coins
2024 Snowman coins available now. The Snowman Advent calendar is already SOLD OUT!
What denominations and finishes are available in The Snowman™ coin collection?
The Snowman 2024 UK coins are available in the 50p denomination. You can choose from Brilliant Uncirculated, Brilliant Uncirculated Colour, Silver Proof Colour, and Gold Proof finishes.
What is the price range for The Snowman™ coins?
Prices vary depending on the coin’s finish and metal content. The Brilliant Uncirculated coin starts at £12.00, while the Gold Proof coin is priced at £1,355.00.
Gruffalo’s Child 50p Coin Release – 28th August 2024
Shop Gruffalo’s Child 50p Coins
2024 Harry Potter 50p Coin
Harry Potter – The Winged Keys 50p coins range. Celebrating an iconic moment from Harry Potter’s adventures, this UK 50p coin features the boy wizard overcoming a challenge during his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Shop Harry Potter 50p Coins
Millennium Falcon 50p Coin
THE STAR WARS COLLECTION: Millennium Falcon – Join us as we celebrate one of the most iconic starships in cinematic history with a Millennium Falcon 50p coin featuring a design inspired by the inimitable Millennium Falcon.
Shop Millennium Falcon 50p Coins
New coin release from The Royal Mint, not in circulation.
#aff
Rare 50p Coins List
The top ten rarest fifty pence coins in circulation are:
The Kew Gardens 50p sells for hundreds of pounds!
Free Circulating 50p Coins List
Rare 50p Coins. Which coins are worth money? UK coin collector guide with all circulating fifty pence coin values for today.
Download our free PDF file listing all fifty pence coins in circulation.
Rare 50p Coin Values
Our site lists all 50 pence coins in UK coin circulation and their 50p coin values.
We also feature coins not intended for circulation, released as collectible UK coins.
History of the 50p coin
The British decimal fifty pence coin, commonly referred to as the 50p coin, is a denomination of sterling coinage worth half of one pound. Introduced in 1969, its obverse has featured the profile of the current Monarch, with five different royal portraits used since its inception. As of March 2013, there were approximately 920 million 50p coins in circulation. The coin is popular among collectors, leading to numerous designs for both commemorative and circulating coins.
The 50p coin is legal tender for amounts up to £10. Its history is fascinating, involving the challenge of creating a new coin tier with a distinct shape. The coin’s unique seven-sided design, known as an equilateral-curve heptagon or Reuleaux polygon, was the world’s first and is a curve of constant width. This design was chosen to ensure the coin could be easily used in vending and sorting machines.
The coin underwent a change in 1997, reducing in diameter and thickness, with the older, larger coins being removed from circulation. The 50p coin has seen various obverse designs featuring Queen Elizabeth II and, more recently, King Charles III. The reverse designs have been varied, often commemorating significant events and figures in British history, culture, and science.
Key Features of the 50p Coin
- Shape: An equilateral-curve heptagon, a shape of constant width.
- Obverse Design: Features the current Monarch, with various designs over the years.
- Reverse Design: Varied designs, often commemorating significant events and figures.
- Legal Tender: Up to £10.
Notable Commemorative Designs
- 1973 Marking the UK’s accession to the European Economic Community.
- 1994 50th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings.
- 2000 150th Anniversary of the Public Libraries Act.
- 2009 Kew gardens 50p is released.
- 2011 Celebrating 50 years of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
- 2020 Marking the Withdrawal of the UK from the European Union.
Recent Developments
- 2022 Introduction of a coin featuring King Charles III following the death of Elizabeth II.
- 2023 A new design featuring an Atlantic salmon was introduced for the King Charles III fifty-pence coin.
The 50p coin not only serves as a medium of exchange but also as a canvas to commemorate and celebrate British history, culture, and achievements.
What is the rarest 50p in circulation?
The rarest 50p coin in general circulation is the 2023 Salmon 50p with a mintage figure of only 200,000 coins, closely followed by the 2009 issued Kew Gardens 50p with a mintage figure of only 210,000 coins.
What fifty-pence pieces are worth money?
Check our list of all 50p coins to see mintage figures and average selling prices in 2021.
Which 50p coins are rare?
Our 50p coin list provides mintage figures for all 50p coins in circulation that you can sort by rarity.
How many Beatrix Potter 50p coins are there?
The Beatrix Potter 50p coins were first released in 2016 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter.
How many London 2012 Olympic 50p coins are there?
The Royal Mint issued 29 different Olympic 50p coins to commemorate the Olympic Games held in London in 2012.
The Brilliant Uncirculated edition of these coins was originally sold individually by The Royal Mint for £2.99 +P&P
- Manufactured to a higher standard on a slower press
- Packed carefully into a protective capsule
- Presented on a colourful London 2012 design card
- Placed into a polybag for extra protection
- Features official London 2012 logo
Known as the 50p Sports Collection, if you bought all 29 coins in the set they offered a FREE Coin Album to hold all coins plus the Completer Medal.
Which are the Rare Olympic Coins?
Aquatics 50p Lines Over Face
The Aquatics 50p first edition with lines over the face of the swimmer is a rare coin.
Only 600 of the Aquatics 50 pence coins were issued with the water covering the face of the swimmer before the design was changed to show no water lines over the face.
A 1st Edition Aquatics coin in the original BU coin pack sold on the 3rd February 2019 for £957.50, according to eBay Sold listings.
The 2nd edition Aquatics 50 pence is NOT a rare coin. Beware! due to the high value and demand for this coin, there are copies / fake coins in circulation and on eBay.
Do your research before you buy one.
Blue Peter 50p
The Blue Peter 50p Winner’s Edition is a rare coin.
In 2009, the BBC Children’s TV program Blue Peter held a competition for its viewers to send in their design for an Olympic 50 pence.
The winner was Florence Jackson’s drawing of a high jumper. Nine-year-old Florence, from Bristol, was the first child ever to work with the Royal Mint to design a UK coin.
A limited-edition of these Blue Peter 50p Winner’s Edition coins were minted in 2009 and it’s these ones that are rare.
It is thought that only 100,000 of the commemorative coins with a 2009 stamp were minted.
The 2011 variant of the Athletics 50p is NOT a rare coin.
Second, on the rare Olympic 50p coin list is the Football 50p, also referred to as the Offside Rule coin.
This is the lowest mintage coin of the 2011 issues, closely followed by Wrestling, Judo, and Triathlon.
All are sought-after by British Coin collectors and UK Numismatists.
NIFC Coins
Some fifty pence coins are formally known as NIFC (Not Intended For Circulation) which means the Royal Mint has released them as collectible coins only and not put them into general circulation. You will not find these coins in your pocket change.
Some of these coins are still available to purchase directly from the Royal Mint in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
Don’t pay more for a circulated coin on eBay when you can get it directly from the mint!
All prices are average selling prices seen in our research of UK coin values.
You might also like to see the Royal Mint mintage figures for all 50p coins.