A RARE King Charles III 50p coin has made waves in the collector’s market after selling for an astonishing £210 on eBay.
This sought-after piece, which celebrates the King’s first year on the throne, is catching the eyes of enthusiasts thanks to its scarcity and unique design.
The rare coin celebrates the King’s first year on the throne[/caption]
The coin, featuring an engraving of an Atlantic salmon leaping from the ocean, was part of a special series released by the Royal Mint in November 2023.
With only 500,000 of these coins estimated to have entered circulation, they’ve quickly become one of the rarest 50p coins currently available.
Christopher Collects of the Britannia Coin Company said: “The 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p is the rarest 50p coin out in circulation now.
“It is rarer than the highly sought-after Kew Gardens 50p, which is why it is selling for large sums of money.
“It is worth mentioning that there are two versions though, so you need to be careful when buying it.
“They look very similar, but one has a little Tudor crown privy mark, which is the version sold in annual coin sets.
“The one put into circulation does not have this privy mark. It is the circulated version without the privy mark that is attracting the largest premiums, so make sure you check before spending!”
The November 17 eBay sale involved two coins from a sealed bag, both without the Tudor crown privy mark, which collectors prize most highly.
After eight bids, the coins sold for an impressive £210.74, highlighting the incredible demand for this 50p piece.
Why is it so rare?
Despite its status as the standard design for 50p coins going forward, the 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p is expected to remain valuable due to its low mintage in its first year.
Christopher Collects explained: “The 2023 Salmon will still hold a premium being a very low minted year, but whether it holds the value it has now is a tough guess.
“All it will take is for there to be a lot minted in a coming year, and it could become very common to find, which might deflate some of the excitement around it.”
This contrasts with the Kew Gardens 50p, a commemorative coin minted for circulation only in 2009, which remains one of the most famous and consistently valuable 50p coins ever released.
Christopher added: “Regardless of what it does in the future, right now it is really exciting for coin collecting and has people checking their change looking to turn a 50p into £100+. Events like this help grow the hobby of coin collecting.”
How can you spot one & sell it
If you’re lucky enough to find one of these coins in your change, it could mean a significant payday.
However, as Christopher warned, it’s essential to ensure the coin you have does not feature the Tudor crown privy mark, as only the non-privy-mark version was minted for circulation and is attracting the highest premiums.
To assess its current value, check eBay’s recently sold listings under the “sold” filter.
Keep in mind that prices can vary based on timing, condition, and demand.
So, next time you sift through your change, keep an eye out for the leaping Atlantic salmon – your small change could turn into big money.
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