'Holy grail' 50p coins in circulation worth hundreds - how to spot them

An expert has shared the two rare 50p coins that are considered the "holy grails" of coin collecting - and they're still in circulation

An expert revealed two 50p coins currently in circulation that could be worth hundreds of pounds(Image: Getty)

Brits have been alerted to keep an eye out for two extremely rare 50p coins in circulation that could land them as much as £250 together. A coin aficionado, known as Coin Collecting Wizard on social media platform TikTok, identified these two elusive designs from 2009 and 2023 as collectable treasures.

Speaking to his followers, he said: "Have you ever noticed some 50 pence coins have designs on them?" He elaborated further, saying: "Well, there are two of them that sell for over £100."

The first coin you need to look out for is the 2009 Kew Gardens piece, sporting a depiction of the famous Chinese Pagoda on its tail side. Hailed as one of the most “iconic” and “beloved” pieces by the Royal Mint, the value of this coin soars due to its scarcity, with the coin expert detailing: "This is an old 50 pence from 2009 and is the Kew Gardens 50p. Only 210,000 of these coins entered UK change and sells for £150."

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Some online listings show this coin priced at around £250, yet some sellers are asking upwards of £300. As reported by LancashireLive, the other coin of note, was issued in 2023.

"This 50 pence is from 2023 and is known as the Atlantic salmon 50p," the enthusiast explained. "Only 200,000 of these coins entered UK change and sell for around £100."

Nonetheless, collectors should be aware that only a select version of this coin possesses considerable worth. He warned: "But be careful with this one. As it is only the 2023 with no privy mark that entered UK circulation that is rare and valuable."

These coins feature very specific images on them to be valuable to collectors(Image: Getty)

Earlier this year, the Royal Mint declared this 50p coin as the rarest in active circulation, surpassing the Kew Gardens piece due to its low mintage figures. The expert further pointed out: "Yes there are many 50p designs you can find in your change, and there are some other rare ones to look for.

"Some notable mentions would be the offside rule 50p and the 2018 Peter Rabbit. But the holy grails would be these two 50 pence coins, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled."