D-Day Landings 50p coin: how much is it worth?

COIN collectors should watch out for the D-Day Landings 50p, as it’s rare, a little retro, and could make you a mint.

The Royal Mint released the 50p in 1994 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

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And to depict the momentous occasion, on the coin’s reverse, an impressive fleet of ships and planes is heading in one direction.

The dramatic display was designed by sculptor John Mills.

There’s 6,705,520 in circulation, according to Change Checker – so you could well find one pops up in your change.

But the 50p comes from a batch that was minted pre-1997.

That means it doesn’t look quite like the change you might find in your pocket today.

That year the shape of 50ps was slightly modernised – making new coins we pass through hands today smaller and thinner.

Compared to newer coins, the 50ps used to be roughly 5g heavier, and around 3mm larger.

But it just means this unique design might be easier to spot down the back of the sofa, or poking out your wallet.

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You also might run into trouble trying to shove the coin into a modern vending machine, or trying to use it down the corner shop – as it’s no longer legal tender.

But don’t despair, snaffle it away and find the right bidder, and you could make a mint.

How much is it worth?

If you take a look at other listings on eBay you’ll often be able to determine how much your own change could go for.

We scoped out how quids-in you’d be if you came across the D-Day coin in your purse.

One bidder was willing to put down as much as £53 for a Silver Piedfort version of the design.

That means they paid 106 times more than the coin’s original face value of 50p.

Another seller meanwhile raked in £31 for a copy of the coin.

And one seller had managed to fish out seven of the rare coins from their own change, and flog the lot for almost £17.

While the coin will typically sell above face value, it just goes to show that its only worth what someone is willing to bid on it – and can vary from one day to the next.

You should also always beware of fakes on the online auction site.

Keep in mind too that a buyer could pull out, which means the coin won’t have sold for the price it says it has.

You can always check in with experts like Coin Hunter or Change Checker to see what your rare pence pieces are really worth.

They might even be able to tell you what other coins in your change are worth – like the rare Kew Gardens 50p, or any from the 2011 Olympic collection.

And on some occasions they may even buy rare finds off you leaving you quids-in.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk