Exact word to spot on your 50p that could make it worth 700 times more – as rare coin sparks eBay bidding war
A SPECIFIC word on your 50p coin could make it worth 700 times more as the rare coin sparks a bidding war on eBay.
The unique coin is said to be a must-have for collectors, selling for a whopping hundreds on the online auction site.
The rare 50p coin was issued in 2005 and has the word Johnson's on the back.
This feature, which refers to Samuel Johson's Dictionary, saw its value skyrocket.
What adds to this coin's value is its rarity, making it a sought-after item that collectors are eager to obtain.
The auction on eBay revealed that four bidders attempted to snap up the rare coin which eventually sold for a staggering £350.
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The seller received 5-star reviews from buyers who left enthusiastic comments praising the rare coin.
"A+ pristine coin as advertised," wrote one user.
Another commented: " Great quality for coin collectors at a great price."
While a third said: "Beautiful coin."
It comes after a 50p coin proved to be a "true gem" thanks to its key details.
The loose change rattling around in your pocket could be pieced together to form the Royal Shield of Arms design but it seems many people are unaware of this.
Matthew Dent redesigned the UK’s coins 16 years ago and now those designs are being replaced with the new UK coinage for King Charles III.
It was decided in 2005 that the country’s coinage was due an overhaul and The Royal Mint ran a competition for the public to submit their designs for the new-look coins.
Some 4,000 designs were submitted and The Royal Mint Advisory Committee selected Matthew Dent’s Royal Shield designs as the winner in 2008.
The Royal coat of arms details a shield divided into four quarters representing England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Matthew's winning design replaced Christopher Ironside's Britannia depiction originally on the reverse of all 50ps.
Matthew said at the time: “I felt that the solution to The Royal Mint’s brief lay in a united design, united in terms of theme, execution and coverage over the surface of the coins.”
To help you get started you can obtain your own Royal Shield Collector Pack which comes with the Royal Shield 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p and 20p, so all you need to look for is the 50p in your change in order to complete it.
How to sell a rare coin
If, after checking, you realise you've come across a rare coin, there are a number of ways you can sell it.
You can sell it on eBay, through Facebook, or in an auction.
But be wary of the risks.
For example, there are a number of scams targeting sellers on Facebook.
Crooks will say they're planning to buy the item and ask for money upfront for a courier they'll be sending around.
But it's all a ruse to get you to send free cash to them - and they never have any intention of picking your item up.
It's always best to meet in person when buying or selling on Facebook Marketplace.
Ensure it's a public meeting spot that's in a well-lit area.
Avoid payment links and log in directly through the payment method's website.
Most sellers prefer to deal with cash directly when meeting to ensure it's legitimate.
The safest way to sell a rare coin is more than likely at auction.
You can organise this with The Royal Mint's Collectors Service. It has a team of experts who can help you authenticate and value your coin.
You can get in touch via email and a member of the valuation team will get back to you.
You will be charged for the service, though - the cost varies depending on the size of your collection.
Meanwhile, you can sell rare coins on eBay.
But take into account that if you manage to sell your item then eBay will charge you 10% of the money you made - this includes postage and packaging.
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Always keep proof of postage to protect yourself from dodgy buyers who may claim they never received the item.
Send the parcel by tracked delivery if you can as this way they can't claim it never arrived.
Most rare and valuable 50p coins
WE reveal the Royal Mint’s most rare and valuable 50p coins in circulation.
Triathlon
Minted in 2011, the Triathlon 50p depicts the same sport which featured in the 2012 Olympics.
There are more than 1,160,000 of the coins in circulation.
With over 200million 50ps circulating in the UK, that makes this coin quite a rare find.
The highest recent sale we've found on eBay recently was £30 on June 21.
Judo
Judo is a popular sport that involves grappling with your opponent.
But despite the design, it's not so easy to get a hold of this coin, of which there are just 1,161,500 in circulation.
The piece was designed by David Cornell after he won a national competition.
It was minted in 2011 and the highest bid we've seen on eBay was for £17.95 on June 21.
Wrestling
Wrestling was one of the first Olympic sports so it's not surprising that it features on one of the 50p pieces.
The 2011 coin was designed by Roderick Enriquez, a graphic designer from Hammersmith, London.
We've seen it sell for as much as £15 online so is worth digging around for.
In recent months, one was sold on eBay for £11.95 on June 18.
Football
Of all the coins created to commemorate the 2012 Olympic Games, the 50p Football is among the rarest.
It features an explanation of the controversial offside rule on it, with 1,125,000 produced.
One sold for £20 on eBay on June 11, although it has been known to go for as much as £75 in the past.
Kew Gardens
The Kew Gardens 50p is the rarest of all the 50p pieces, with only 210,000 in circulation.
They have been known to sell for as much as £895 on eBay before.
The design was created by Christopher Le Brun RA and features the famous Chinese Pagoda with a leafy chamber that twists around the tower.
The coin often sparks the interest of new coin collectors due to its rarity.
The highest sale we found in recent weeks was £142 on June 22 with 23 bids.