Rarest 50p coins: UK 50p coins by rarity
The ten scarcest 50p designs in circulation, ranked by how many the Royal Mint released.
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The short answer
The rarest 50p coin in circulation is the 2023 Atlantic Salmon, with 200,000 released, just ahead of the 2009 Kew Gardens with 210,000. After those two come four of the 2011 Olympic designs, each a little over 1.1 million.
50p coins by rarity
- Atlantic Salmon2023200,000 struck for circulation. The lowest mintage of any 50p in circulation
- Kew Gardens2009210,000 struck for circulation. The rarest 50p for many years
- Olympic Football20111,125,500 struck for circulation. Explains the offside rule
- Olympic Wrestling20111,129,500 struck for circulation
- Olympic Judo20111,161,500 struck for circulation
- Olympic Triathlon20111,163,500 struck for circulation
- Peter Rabbit20181,400,000 struck for circulation
- Flopsy Bunny20181,400,000 struck for circulation
- Olympic Tennis20111,454,000 struck for circulation
- Olympic Goalball20111,615,500 struck for circulation
Mintages are the Royal Mint's published figures for coins released into circulation. For comparison, an ordinary Britannia 50p is struck in the tens of millions.
What makes a 50p collectable
- The designRarity belongs to the design and year, so check both against the list.
- ConditionA coin straight from a bank bag is wanted more than one worn from years in change.
- Errors and varietiesGenuine mint errors exist but are uncommon. Most odd-looking coins are damaged, not rare.
- PackagingBrilliant uncirculated and proof coins in Royal Mint packaging are a separate market from circulated coins.
For older money, see old British coins worth money. For gold, see how to sell gold coins and sovereign values by year. Coin weights are in the UK coin weights table.
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Rare 50p coins: questions
What is the rarest 50p coin?
The 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p, with 200,000 released into circulation. The 2009 Kew Gardens 50p is close behind with 210,000.
How rare is the Kew Gardens 50p?
Only 210,000 were struck for circulation in 2009, which made it the rarest 50p in circulation for more than a decade.
Which Olympic 50p coins are the rarest?
Of the 29 designs issued for London 2012, Football is the scarcest with 1,125,500, followed by Wrestling, Judo and Triathlon.
Are 50p coins by rarity worth more than face value?
The scarcest designs sell for more than 50p to collectors, and how much depends on condition and demand at the time. We do not publish values for circulated 50p coins.
How do I check if my 50p is rare?
Look at the design on the reverse and the date on the front, then search the list on this page. Most commemorative 50p coins were struck in the millions.
Do you buy rare 50p coins?
Our interest is in gold and silver coins and in collections. If your 50p coins are part of a larger collection, send photographs and we will look at the whole of it.
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