Rare coins in circulation: which 50 pence coins could be worth over £150.

According to The Sun: What may seem like ordinary coins could actually be worth a decent amount of money if you know what to look for.

A rare 50 pence coin, first issued in 2023, sold at auction at the end of last month for £157.

Another 20 pence coin is valued at up to 419 times its face value and was sold on eBay in August for £83.88.

And the best part: these valuable coins may still be in circulation, hiding under the rug or lost behind the sofa. Maybe you have a little treasure waiting to be discovered.

We compared mintage figures and checked auction sites like eBay to find out how much your spare coins could be worth.

You can use our interactive tool to find out which coins are worth more than their face value.

Read on to learn what makes these everyday coins so unique.

Rare 5 pence coins – worth up to £2.12

Although they are often produced in tens of millions, the 5 pence coin from 1977 stands out for its collectability and sells for around £2.12.

The 5 pence coin from 1977 is the rarest of this denomination, with a mintage of 24,308,000.

Despite being manufactured in large quantities, this coin has significant collectable value.

Meanwhile, the 5 pence coin from 2008 became part of a redesign that marked the 40th anniversary of the decimal system.

Graphic designer Matthew Dent won a competition to create new designs that included elements of the Royal Arms.

On the 5 pence coin, this heraldic design represents part of the coat of arms, which, together with other coins, forms a complete image on the £1 coin.

With a mintage of 92,880,000, it sells for around £1.25.

Rare 10 pence coins – worth up to £10.77

The 10 pence coin with Z for Zebra, issued in 2019, with only 63,000 minted, contains a nod to British culture and is valued at around £10.77.

All these rare 10 pence coins are part of the A-Z collection issued by the Royal Mint in 2018 and reissued in 2019.

This special series has 26 unique designs, each representing one letter of the alphabet and celebrating iconic aspects of British life.

The Z for Zebra coin, issued in 2019, features the letter 'Z' on a zebra crossing, nodding to British innovation and pop culture, especially related to The Beatles' album cover 'Abbey Road'.

With just 63,000 minted, it is highly sought after and sells for around £10.77.

The R for Robin coin features Britain's favorite national bird sitting inside the letter 'R', surrounded by snowflakes.

It symbolizes luck and happiness; only 64,000 were minted in 2019 and it is valued at £8.64.

The Q for Queue coin celebrates the iconic British tradition of queuing, with a design depicting a line of people moving through the letter 'Q'.

With a mintage of 83,000 in 2019, it sells for around £3.29, highlighting its collectability.

Rare 20 pence coins – worth up to £83.88

In November 2008, a minting error resulted in 250,000 coins being minted without a date, making them the first non-rare coins to be issued in over 300 years.

The year 2008 became known for one of the rarest and most valuable errors in our coin history.

November 2008 brought a minting error when 250,000 coins were minted without a date, making them the first non-rare coins in more than 300 years.

This happened when an old undated reverse side accidentally combined with a new 'Royal Arms' design.

These coins have a high demand and can sell for up to £83.88 on eBay.

The 20 pence coin with the Tudor Rose, minted in the same year, has a mintage of 11.9 million, and its design made it popular among collectors, valued at around £4.36.

The 1992 Tudor Rose coin is a bright example of an earlier Tudor Rose design, with a mintage of 31.2 million.

Although it is quite common, it remains interesting to collectors due to its historical significance, with a price of approximately £2.20.

Rare 50 pence coins – worth up to £156.68

The highly sought-after 50 pence coin sells for up to £156.68 on eBay.

The 2023 50 pence coin 'Atlantic Salmon' is the rarest in circulation, with only 200,000 minted.

This coin, part of the new iconic designs of King Charles III, depicts the Atlantic salmon, a species found in the clear rivers of Scotland, Wales, and parts of England.

This highly sought-after coin can sell for up to £156.68 on eBay.

The 'Kew Gardens' 50 pence coin from 2009 with a mintage of 210,000 previously held the title of the rarest 50 pence coin for over ten years.

Designed by Christopher Le Brun, it depicts the iconic Chinese pagoda of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Many of these coins went straight into collections, making them even rarer.

The original version was highly valued, reaching prices of up to £229.95.

Another important coin is the 50 pence 'Olympic Football' from 2011, minted to commemorate the London 2012 Olympics, illustrating the offside rule through a tactical board design by Neil Wolfson.

This coin is appealing to football fans and collectors, with a mintage of 1,125,500 and valued at around £24.32.

Rare £1 coins – worth up to £16.12

The rarest coin currently in circulation is the £1 coin 'King Charles III with Bees' from 2025.

The rarest £1 coin currently in circulation is the 'King Charles III with Bees' from 2025, with a mintage of just 170,000.

It features a detailed image of a bee, symbolizing hard work and community, and may be worth up to £16.12 due to its rarity.

The 'Nation of the Crown' 2022 coin, designed by David Pearce, represents the four nations of the United Kingdom – Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England, interwoven in a crown.

The reverse side features the fifth and final depiction of Queen Elizabeth II by Jodie Clarke.

With a mintage of 7,735,000, it remains highly sought after, valued at up to £9.57.

The 'King Charles III with Bees' coin from 2023 also features an intricate bee design.

Although minted in larger quantities – 10,030,000 – it is valued at around £8.50 and remains popular among collectors.

Rare £2 coins – worth up to £47.48

One highly sought-after £2 coin sells for up to £47.48 on eBay.

The rarest £2 coin in circulation is the 2002 Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games coin, with a mintage of just 485,500.

It depicts the Ulster flag alongside a figure holding a flag, symbolizing the nation's sporting achievements.

This highly sought-after coin can sell for up to £47.48 on eBay.

Next is the 2002 Wales Commonwealth Games coin with a mintage of 588,500, depicting a figure in motion with a flag surrounded by the Commonwealth community.

This coin can sell for up to £29.80 on eBay.

The 'Royal Navy Memorial during World War I' coin from 2015 commemorates the bravery of the Royal Navy during World War I.

It features a stunning depiction of HMS Royal Oak, and the landscape includes an inscription around the edge: 'THE SURE SHIELD OF BRITAIN'.

With a mintage of 650,000, it is valued at around £6.50 on eBay due to its historical significance.

How to check if you have a rare coin?

Rare coins and valuable banknotes can be worth tens of thousands of times more than their face value.

But sometimes it's just small differences that make them so valuable.

The most valuable coins typically have low mintage or are errors.

These characteristics make them valuable to collectors.

Your next step is to check if your coin is still available for purchase in superior quality uncirculated from the official distributor of the Royal Mint, according to Change Checker.

Certified coins in superior condition have been specially minted, setting them apart from other coins you might find in your pockets.

How to safely store valuable coins?

Here are a few tips on how to keep your valuable coins from damage:

• Store your coins in separate containers.
• Keep them in clear, airtight holders so you can see both sides of the coin.
• Avoid putting them in plastic bags as they may rub against each other and leave scratches.
• Store your collection in a folder or album, although tarnishing may occur faster compared to an airtight container.
• Keep them away from humid environments; you can use silica gel to prevent moisture.
• Wear clean white gloves when handling coins.
• Avoid using PVC materials as they retain moisture and release acidic gases that can damage the collection.

How to sell your rare coins?

There are many factors to consider when trying to appraise a coin, including its condition and mintage. So it is important to do your research first.

If you have a coin you want to sell at auction, you can contact the Royal Mint's Collector Services.

They have a team of experts who can help you identify and appraise your coin.

You need to send in a request via email, and a member of the appraisal team will get in touch with you.

Take a picture of your coin and attach it to the email – all information is available on the Royal Mint's website.

Keep in mind that there is a fee for this service; the cost depends on the size of your collection.

If you plan to buy a coin online through platforms like eBay, it is important to know what exactly you are buying.

Be cautious of fakes online and remember that on eBay, the buyer can refuse, and the coin was not sold at the declared price.

We have also prepared a guide on the rarest and most valuable coins.

We will also explain what to do if you find a lucky coin in your pocket.

Which are the most rare and valuable coins?

• The five rarest coins – do you have one?
• 13 most valuable £2 coins in circulation.
• How valuable are rare £1 coins?
• The most rare and valuable 50 pence coins in circulation.
• Rare and valuable 20 pence coins that could be worth up to £750.
• The most rare 10 pence coins in circulation.
• Rare 2 pence coins discovered.
• How to check if you have a rare and valuable banknote.