A rare 50p coin has fetched an impressive 275 times its original value following a fierce bidding battle on eBay. The piece, struck in 2009 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Kew Gardens, features the distinctive Chinese Pagoda on one side and a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II on the other. With The Royal Mint producing only approximately 210,000 of these coins, they have become highly coveted amongst collectors.
Bidding War Drives Price Up
The listing, described as "Amazingly Rare Kew Gardens Uncirculated 50 Pence Piece", opened with a starting bid of £80. As 13 bidders competed for the coin, the price climbed steadily before ultimately settling at £137.86. Experts value the coin at around £145, suggesting this fortunate eBay seller may have narrowly missed out on maximum returns.
Check Your Change
Monetary experts believe hundreds of thousands of these Kew Gardens coins remain in circulation, making it worthwhile to rummage through your pockets, purses, and even between sofa cushions. Should you discover a Kew Gardens 50p, the crucial first step is to verify the date stamped on it. This matters because The Royal Mint released a second run of these coins in 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 50p denomination. While these later editions typically command lower prices, they have still been known to achieve around £70 or £80 on eBay.
So, before you spend that loose change, take a moment to inspect any 50p coins you may have. You could be holding a small fortune without even knowing it.
