Just 210,000 of these coins were released into circulation
People are being encouraged to check their loose change for a particular coin from 2009 that could fetch up to £150. This 50 pence piece has earned the title of the “second rarest” currently circulating throughout the UK.
The Coin Collecting Wizard, a specialist posting on social media platform X, provided further details. He displayed an image of the coin which depicts a scene from Kew Gardens in London.
He said: “Kew Gardens 50p – a true change checker’s dream. The Kew Gardens 50p is the second rarest 50p coin still found in circulation, which makes it one of the most exciting coins to spot in your change.”
The expert revealed this particular piece could command £150. Elaborating on his Facebook page, he added: “With its famous pagoda design, it’s a favourite among collectors and not an easy find at all. If you’re lucky enough to come across one, it can be worth around £150, depending on condition.
“A great reminder that checking your change really can pay off – you never know what’s hiding in your pocket! Have you found one yet…or still searching?”
The coin showcases the gardens’ iconic Chinese pagoda on the reverse (tails), whilst the obverse (heads) features Queen Elizabeth II.
The Royal Mint notes on its website that collectors “go crazy” for the Kew Gardens 50p. It said: “If you were to ask collectors which coin got them started, the chances are it was the 50p.
“Over the years, the coin has been issued in a huge range of commemorative editions celebrating every aspect of British culture, from athletes to authors. The sheer variety has sparked a collecting craze but of all the 50p coins, the Kew Gardens 50p is arguably the most sought-after.
“Nothing gets people excited quite like this original 2009 design. Just 210,000 were released into circulation and with almost all of them in private hands, the chances of coming across one in your change are slim.”
Explaining more about the design of the coin, it said: “The venerable institution depicted on the Kew Gardens 50p coin is the nation’s most famous royal botanical garden. The reverse design, created by Christopher Le Brun RA, features the famous Chinese Pagoda at Kew with a decorative leafy climber twining in and around the tower.
“Demand for the 50p denomination was not high at the time of release into circulation which explains the low mintage of this particular design.”
However, in 2023, the Kew Gardens coin relinquished its title as the UK’s rarest 50p coin to the new Atlantic salmon design, marking King Charles III’s ascension to the throne.