A LUCKY punter has found what he calls the “rarest 50p ever” in a tin of old change at home – and now it’s worth hundreds.
A delighted coin collector has taken to TikTok to show off the unusual find commemorating Kew Gardens in south-west London.
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Nathan Hopkins told viewers how he stumbled across the coin, one of the most-prized among rare money collectors.
He viewers in a two-minute clip: “This Kew Gardens 50p, it’s the rarest 50p in circulation, and I got it in my tin at home in my change.
“I was really excited because it’s the rarest 50p in circulation.”
The Royal Mint has highlighted Kew Gardens 50p coins as among the most popular among specialists – especially the 2009 design, as featured in Nathan’s video.
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Just 210,000 of those were released into circulation, but with most of them ending up in private hands.
As well as featuring the late Queen Elizabeth II‘s head on one side, the reverse shows Kew’s Chinese pagoda entwined by a decorative leafy climber.
It was designed by Christopher Le Brun RA and was launched to mark 250 years since the attraction first opened.
At the time it was felt 50p pieces were falling out of fashion, so only a small number of special editions were produced.
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The Royal Mint included the coin a decade later in its British Culture Set celebrating 50 years of the 50p.
In contrast, 10million Brexit 50p coins were minted.
One of the Kew 50p coins has sold for £707, while others fetched £300.08 and £310 on internet auction site eBay.
Money experts say other coins tucked in your pocket could be worth more than you imagine – including a £2 coin and a 20p piece with unusual glitches.
As well as Kew, other limited-edition 50ps have showcased the Olympics – with one highlighting the triathlon event.
There are also coins featuring a design by a young viewer of BBC One show Blue Peter.
Meanwhile, experts at Change Checker have identified the rarest 20p coins which could sell for as much as £1, 400.
An unusual 10p piece was put at 300 times its face value and six dateless 20p coins were bought recently for more than £300 in Redditch, Worcestershire.
Change experts such as Coin Hunter help calculate how much your finds might be worth.
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People are urged to check how much the coin is selling for on eBay by searching the full name of the coin, choosing the “sold” listing and then amending the search to “highest value”.
Tips have been given on how best to work out your coin’s worth.
Rare coins and notes – is yours worth a mint?
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