A rare 50p coin featuring Queen Elizabeth II has been listed on eBay for more than £20,000 by a seller in County Durham.
The coin, described as “Very Rare”, is currently on offer for £20,086 with the option of collection from Crook, County Durham.
The listing has already drawn attention from collectors, with the seller emphasising its collectable value and unique design.
The 2017 piece celebrates Tom Kitten, one of Beatrix Potter’s much-loved characters, and is part of a wider Royal Mint series marking the author’s stories.
The item description highlights the coin as “a must-have for enthusiasts and collectors alike,” capturing both the nostalgic charm of Beatrix Potter’s tales and the artistry of British coinage.
The coin can be viewed here.
While the coin’s face value is just 50p, resale prices online can reach astonishing sums — often tens of thousands of pounds.
Recently, similar commemorative 50p coins featuring Beatrix Potter characters such as Flopsy Bunny and Peter Rabbit have sold for up to £5, while rarer Olympic editions can fetch hundreds of pounds.
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The Kew Gardens 50p, widely considered the rarest in circulation with just 210,000 minted in 2009, has sold for more than £700 at auction despite its average resale price being around £156.
By contrast, eBay listings for coins like the Tom Kitten edition or “Diversity Built Britain” design have appeared at vastly inflated prices, sometimes 30,000 times their original value.
What Makes a Coin Valuable?
According to the Royal Mint, several factors determine a coin’s collectability and resale value:
- Mintage: how many coins with that design were originally produced
- Design: commemorative issues tend to be more sought after
- Condition: uncirculated coins fetch higher sums than those showing wear
- Errors: rare minting mistakes can make a coin extremely desirable
But experts also caution buyers to be wary of eBay listings with inflated price tags.
Just because a coin is listed for thousands of pounds, it doesn’t mean it will sell for that figure.
Top 10 Most Valuable 50p Coins
The Royal Mint lists the following as the rarest and most valuable 50p coins in the UK:
- Kew Gardens (2009) – 210,000 minted
- Olympic Wrestling (2011) – 1,129,500 minted
- Olympic Football (2011) – 1,161,500 minted
- Olympic Judo (2011) – 1,161,500 minted
- Olympic Triathlon (2011) – 1,163,500 minted
- Peter Rabbit (2018) – 1,400,000 minted
- Flopsy Bunny (2018) – 1,400,000 minted
- Olympic Tennis (2011) – 1,454,000 minted
- Olympic Goalball (2011) – 1,615,500 minted
- Olympic Shooting (2011) – 1,656,500 minted
Experts at the Royal Mint stress that while commemorative coins are popular and can fetch good prices, many of the sky-high listings online are optimistic at best.
A spokesperson said: “Some coins regularly change hands for hundreds of pounds, but just because a coin is listed for a certain price doesn’t mean it will sell for that.
"Buyers should always do their research and, if in doubt, seek advice from a trusted coin dealer.”
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