Certain coins are undoubtedly more desirable than others, for instance this rare 50p piece is “worth a lot of money”. Examining your change for unusual coins is extremely important as you never know what could be lurking in your purses.
Now one coin specialist has delivered an urgent message regarding a 50p which was advertised on eBay for £10,000. Meanwhile comparable designs were also carrying a £7,500 asking price but before you become too enthusiastic, it’s not quite what it appears. When verifying a coin’s scarcity, it’s essential to examine the design for any features which could render it valuable among enthusiasts, and if uncertain, always consult a professional.
The specialist, known as @CoinCollectingWizard, informed his 270,300 followers on TikTok: “Look at these prices for a King Charles 50p. Wow £10,000, £7,000, I am rich, I need to speak to the Coin Collecting Wizard.
“These coins were produced in the millions and can be found in your change. Remember anyone can put up ridiculous prices on the likes of eBay.”
The Truth Behind Overpriced eBay Rare Coin Listings
Discussing the Atlantic Salmon 50p, he stated there are “rumours” it entered circulation with only 500,000 coins.
He continued: “This would make it the second rarest circulating 50p that can be found in your change. So you can imagine if this Salmon 50p does end up being as low as 500,000, it will be highly sought-after by coin collectors.
“But please note this is only a rumour at this stage. No one knows how many are out there and remember this tip always use the filter options on eBay and filter by sold listings to get a more accurate estimation of your coin.”
Casting his eye over the more realistic valuations, he concluded: “As you can see the coin’s mentioned at the beginning of the video are selling for just over 50p.”
Royal Mint Confirms Atlantic Salmon 50p Mintage Figures
According to the Royal Mint, the 2023 King Charles Atlantic Salmon 50p is officially the rarest 50p in active UK circulation. It holds a mintage of just 200,000, marginally lower than the previously rarest UK coin – the Kew Gardens 50p.
While this renders it scarcer than the celebrated 2009 Kew Gardens piece, on the secondary market, circulated versions typically fetch between £50 and £90.
A separate version of the Atlantic Salmon was issued in Annual Sets and features a tiny Tudor Crown privy mark behind His Majesty’s neck. This variant carries a higher mintage and is considerably less rare than the standard circulated coin.
Although the Salmon 50p was included in collector sets for 2024 and 2025, these were not released into general circulation (and do not feature the privy mark).
Should you believe you are in possession of a rare coin, it is always advisable to seek guidance from a professional or auction house. You can also obtain a rough estimate of current values by checking the ‘sold’ listings on eBay.
