What’s the Kew Gardens 50p worth?
Based on our research, the current coin collector value for this coin is as follows:
| Coin Variant | Collector Value |
|---|---|
| Circulated : Mintage: 210,000 Scarcity = Very Rare | £140.00 (up to £160 based on condition) |
| Brilliant Uncirculated (Royal Mint Pack) : Mintage: 128,364 | £225.00 |
Our Price Guide is an average based on our eBay sold item research. Specific coin values vary based on the condition of each individual coin.
This site contains affiliate links for which we may be compensated
Watchers: 3 Current Bid: £235.00
Watchers: 7 Current Bid: £179.99
Watchers: 10 Current Bid: £295.00
Watchers: 5 Current Bid: £175.00
Watchers: 1 Current Bid: £150.00
Watchers: 13 Current Bid: £164.00#aff These are not our products or coins for sale. Please check with the eBay Seller directly to confirm authenticity, rarity, condition, shipping costs, and prices. Prices shown here may not be final. Our search results are provided via the Official eBay ePN API.
Description
Kew Gardens 50p Coin Value
The 2009 Kew Gardens 50p is the most highly-prized 50 pence coin sought by British Coin collectors in the UK. Beware of filler coins; a fake token of the same design as the genuine coin.
With a stunning design featuring the Chinese Pagoda at The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, the Kew Gardens 50 pence has a low mintage figure of only 210,000 coins released into UK circulation in 2009.
More about the Kew Gardens 50p
The Kew 50p was re-issued in 2019 as one of the 50 Years of the 50p celebration set coins. You may find a single coin listed for sale, with a 2019 date, meaning it was taken from a coin set. These are not as rare or as valuable as an original 2009 coin.
How much is the Kew Gardens 50p worth?
The Kew Gardens 50p is worth over £140 for a circulated coin. These are fast disappearing from UK general circulation into private coin collections across the world. Prices vary greatly based upon condition, keep in mind these coins have been in use for over 15 years!
Prices have been going up steadily, recently trending over £200 for a circulated coin on eBay UK.
There seems to be no limit to the Kew 50p worth, as sales prices continue to rise.
What are the chances of finding a Kew Gardens 50p?
With only 210,000 Kew 50p coins being entered into circulation in 2009, it’s thought that your chances are only one in three hundred for being likely to find one in your change.
With UK coin collectors buying large bags of 50p coins from the Post Office just to coin hunt for the elusive Kew Gardens coins, the number still in circulation is probably dramatically less than the original 210K. Everyone is now taking pride of place in coin collections around the world.
What’s the Chinese tower?
The Kew Gardens 50p design depicts the Chinese Great Pagoda at Kew gardens encircled by a vine and accompanied by the dates “1759” and “2009”, with the word “KEW” at the base of the pagoda.
In 2009 the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew marked its 250th Anniversary as a botanical garden and The Royal Mint was proud to join in the celebrations with a splendid commemorative design.
Is the Kew Gardens 50p rare?
The Royal Mint indicated that there is only one Kew Gardens 50 pence in circulation for every 300 people in the UK due to its limited mintage of 210,000 coins.
You may have to dig deep to find one in your pocket change or you can buy them on eBay if your pockets are deep enough!
2009 Kew Gardens 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Coin
Struck in cupro-nickel and designed by Christopher Le Brun RA, this commemorative 50p coin celebrates the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.
It features the Chinese Pagoda surrounded by the dates 1759 and 2009.
The colourful pack tells the rich history of the Gardens and the architecture at Kew as well as the inspiration behind choosing the famous Pagoda as the centerpiece for the reverse design of the coin.
- Limited edition of 50,000 coins
- Royal Mint Product code: UKKGBU
- Displayed in a colourful presentation folder
- BU coins are struck to a higher quality than the coins in your pocket
- Original issue price in 2009: £6.99
One of these packs shows as sold on eBay UK in January 2022 for £410
Kew Gardens Philatelic Numismatic Cover
The BU coin was also issued as a Kew Gardens Philatelic Numismatic Cover.
Presented within a specially designed folder that tells the rich history of the Gardens accompanied by four commemorative stamps, each featuring an architectural masterpiece located at Kew Gardens.
- Limited edition of 20,000 PNC
- Royal Mint Product code: UKKGPNC
- Presented within a specially designed folder that tells the rich history of the Gardens
- BU coins are struck to a higher quality than the coins in your pocket
- Original issue price in 2009: £15.45
2009 UK Proof Coin Sets
The Kew Gardens 50 pence was also included in the 2009 Annual Proof Sets.
The issue limits for these coin sets were:
- BU Proof Coin Set: 100,000
- Baby Gift BU Coin Set: 50,000
- Standard Proof Coin Set: 20,000
- Deluxe Proof Coin Set: 15,000
- Executive Proof Coin Set: 5,000
2009 Brilliant Uncirculated Proof Coin Set
The 2009 United Kingdom Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Collection has 11 coins including the Kew Gardens 50p.
2009 UK Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Set
- Limited edition of 100,000 sets
- Royal Mint Product code: DU09
- Displayed in an informative presentation folder
- Struck to a higher quality than the coins in your pocket
- Original issue price in 2009: £19.99
What’s it worth today?
We have seen this set selling on eBay and Facebook groups for £325 to £350 when still in the original sealed bag from The Royal Mint.
2009 Baby Gift Coin Set
The 2009 United Kingdom Baby Gift set has 11 coins including the Kew Gardens 50p.
- Limited edition of 50,000 sets
- Royal Mint Product code: DU09BP
- Presented within a specially designed folder that includes space to record the baby’s birth details and family tree
- Struck to a higher quality than the coins in your pocket
- Original issue price in 2009: £19.99
2009 Standard Proof Coin Set
The 2009 United Kingdom Baby Gift set has 12 coins including the Kew Gardens 50p.
- Limited edition of 20,000 sets
- Royal Mint Product code: D09
- Displayed in an attractive case featuring the Royal Mint emblem on the cover
- Struck to a higher quality than the coins in your pocket
- Original issue price in 2009: £39.99
2009 Deluxe Proof Coin Set
The 2009 UK Deluxe Proof Coin Set has 12 Proof quality coins, including the Kew Gardens 50p.
- Limited edition of 15,000 sets
- Royal Mint Product code: D09DX
- Displayed in a sumptuous black leather case
- Struck to a higher quality than the coins in your pocket
- Original issue price in 2009: £49.99
2009 Executive Proof Coin Set
This collection for 2009 comprises 12 legal tender circulating coins of the realm, from the 1p to the £2, together with the four magnificent commemorative coins.
All are struck to superior Proof standard and are housed in a luxurious walnut-veneer case displaying on its lid the emblem of the Royal Mint.
An informative booklet, which includes an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity, completes the presentation.
- Limited edition of 5,000 sets
- Royal Mint Product code: DU09BP
- Displayed in a luxurious walnut-veneer presentation case
- Struck to superior Proof quality
- Original issue price in 2009: £79.99
Example of the COA:
Beware of fake coins!
If you are buying any of these coins, please take care to make sure it is a genuine coin as there are many fake Kew 50p coins in circulation. On eBay, read the listing title and description carefully and ask the Seller for confirmation that it is a genuine coin if you are uncertain. Stay away from any listings that say “COMPLETER”, “COPY”, “FAKE”, “FILLER”, and such. Look for the word “GENUINE” in your search.
How to spot Kew Gardens 50p fake coins?
There are fake or (copy) coins posted on eBay daily, so do your homework to be able to recognise them before you start any bidding.
Our tips to buying a Kew Gardens 50p on eBay include:
- OBVERSE: Text under Queen’s neck says IRB COPY – 100% Fake
- OBVERSE: Tip of Queen’s neck points anywhere other than at the “P” of PENCE, 100% Fake
- OBVERSE: Is the Queen’s face and neck frosted? Possible Fake
- OBVERSE: Do the Queen’s eyes look weird? Possible Fake
- REVERSE: Lines each side of the word KEW, Possible Fake if it’s a circulated coin. See more below.
- REVERSE: Is the tip of the Pagoda very pointed? Possible Fake
- VERY SHINY: Possible Fake
- NO PICTURE POSTED OF THE OBVERSE (the side with the Queen’s face): Possible Fake, ask to see one
- ONLY 1 AUCTION BID? Possible Fake, other Buyers think it is a Fake so are not bidding. Monitor the auction.
- “GENUINE” in eBay title text: This is a good sign but doesn’t mean it is a real one. Check the above.
- “SEE DETAILS” or “READ” in eBay title text: Check item details for the words “Copy”, “Souvenir”, “Replica” or “Completer”
Fake Kew GardensIn 2022 we are seeing these COPY COINS selling for crazy amounts such as this example:
This is not a genuine coin even though the eBay sellers listing says it is “very rare”. If you know anyone buying coins on eBay, please share this information with them so that they don’t make the mistake of paying £88 for something that is basically worthless! See the Queen’s eyes and “IRB Copy” highlighted in yellow.
You may also see “rare kew gardens 50p 2009 uncirculated *copy coin* please read description” – this means it’s not an original coin.
Genuine circulated coins have no lines on each side of the word KEW.
BU / Proof / Silver / Gold coins have double lines.
Some people think that ALL coins with the lines are FAKE, this is not the case if they are BU or Proof coins direct from the Royal Mint.
What is the rarity and mintage of the 2019 50 Years of the 50p Kew Gardens coin?
The 2019 50 Years of the 50p Kew Gardens coin has a unique rarity and mintage. It was not produced for circulation and therefore cannot be found in regular change.
However, it was available for purchase in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) quality. The total mintage for the BU version of this coin is 84,681.
Within the BU mintage, there were 31,250 coins included in the 2019 50 Years of the 50p Kew Gardens Royal Mint packs, and an additional 53,431 coins were sold in other packaging such as sets or cards through official distributors.
How many Kew Gardens 50p coins were minted for circulation and in Brilliant Uncirculated quality?
A total of 210,000 Kew Gardens 50p coins were struck specifically for circulation. These coins were minted in 2009 and were intended to be found in regular currency.
In addition to the coins meant for circulation, a separate batch of Kew Gardens 50p coins was produced in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) quality. The entire mintage of the BU version includes 11,281 coins that were packaged in Kew Gardens Royal Mint packs.
Additionally, there were 117,083 BU coins sold in different packaging variants like sets or cards, distributed through official channels. The BU coins were made available for purchase starting from 7 December 2008.
What is the significance of the Kew Gardens 50p coin?
The Kew Gardens 50p coin holds significant historical importance as it was minted to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens in 2009. The design showcases the iconic pagoda, a prominent structure associated with Kew, encompassed by a vine. Adorned with the years ‘1759’ and ‘2009’, representing the establishment and commemoration of the gardens, respectively, the coin also features the word ‘KEW’ at the base of the pagoda.
Crafted from cupronickel, the Kew Gardens 50p coin weighs 8g and has a diameter of 27.3mm. Its availability extends beyond collectors as it was circulated with a total mintage of 210,000 coins. Moreover, it was also released in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) quality, with a limited mintage of 128,364 coins.
The remarkable rarity of the circulation coin contributes to its substantial value, estimated to be approximately £140. Alternatively, the BU version holds even greater worth, currently valued at around £225. This coin’s sought-after status arises from its scarcity and the historical significance it symbolizes.
Building upon the previous release, in 2019, another commemorative coin titled “50 Years of the 50p Kew Gardens” was introduced. Struck in BU quality and with a mintage limited to 84,681 coins, this coin possesses its own unique significance, worth approximately £70.
Overall, the Kew Gardens 50p coin holds immense significance due to its role in celebrating and honoring the extensive history of the Royal Botanic Gardens, making it a highly sought-after and cherished piece among collectors and enthusiasts alike.
How does the condition of a coin affect its value?
The condition of a coin plays a significant role in determining its value. When it comes to coin collecting, a coin that is in good circulated condition is generally more desirable than one that is worn down and battered. This means that while a coin may have a notable historical or collectible value, its overall condition greatly influences its worth.
Coins in good condition are typically free from major scratches, abrasions, or damage that could diminish their visual appeal. Additionally, they retain most of the original design details and maintain some of their original shine. These coins, known as Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) quality coins, are produced to a higher standard and showcase more intricacies compared to circulation quality coins.
Coin collectors often seek coins that have been well-maintained and protected over time. Some coins made for circulation, known as ‘Uncirculated’, can still retain their original shine and have fewer contact marks if they have been stored in sealed bags or carefully curated collections. These sealed coins, though still considered circulation quality, are highly valued due to their relatively pristine condition.
On the other hand, coins that have been in circulation for an extended period may show signs of wear and tear, ultimately affecting their value. Contact marks, scratches, and various signs of use can diminish the appeal and overall desirability of a coin. In particular, coins that have been extensively circulated for many years may exhibit significant wear and may no longer possess the original shine or design details.
Ultimately, the condition of a coin determines its appeal to collectors and, subsequently, its value. Coins in better condition and with fewer blemishes, marks, or signs of use are highly sought after and often command higher prices in the market.
