A rare Olympic 50p coin featuring a Blue Peter design could be worth 500 times its face value
An expert revealed that a rare 50p from 2009 could be worth more than £200(Image: Getty)
Britons are being encouraged to check their change for a highly “sought-after” 50p piece that could fetch upwards of £200. According to an expert, one example of this particular coin from 2009 previously sold for £257.
The coin was struck to mark the 2012 London Olympics and depicts a high-jumper, a design that originated from a child’s entry in a Blue Peter competition.
However, its significant value only applies if it bears the 2009 date. The 2011 version of the same coin is considerably more common and consequently less valuable.
In a video shared on social media platform TikTok, an expert known as the Coin Collecting Wizard stated: “This coin is worth 50p but this coin is worth £200.
“Do you know why this coin is known as the Athletics 50 pence? Collectors are keen to get their hands on this piece of history and its nod to the classic children’s television show adds a personal stake to the value for many too.
“The rare coin features a picture showing an athlete in the Olympics as drawn and depicted by the young viewer back in 2009, but it wouldn’t be until 2011 that the coin was officially minted and distributed to public hands.
“Around 2.2 million of the coins were minted in 2011 and released into circulation, but an earlier version of the coin was minted in 2009 and is much more valuable to collectors.”
The expert notes that the most prized version is one that comes in commemorative Blue Peter packaging. He went on to say: “It helps when it comes with its original packaging that includes images of presenters from the hit show. It’s sold for £257 on eBay in the past, which makes it over 500 times more than face value.
“This is a sought-after coin among collectors, but remember that if you want the big bucks then you need to check the date, as the 2011 version of this coin is just worth 50 pence, but possibly slightly more to collectors.”
On its website, the Britannia Coin Company shared more about the coin. It said: “The designs for this collection were selected from 30,000 designs submitted by the public as part of a competition – the design for the athletics coin is slightly different, however, as it was chosen as part of a Blue Peter competition.
“The 2011 Athletics 50p, also known as the ‘High Jump 50p’, was chosen from 17,000 entries from children to the Blue Peter competition. Nine-year-old Florence Jackson won the competition and is the first ever child to have designed a UK coin from The Royal Mint. The reverse of the 2011 Athletics 50p displays Jackson’s design of a high jumper jumping over a horizontal bar, the 2012 Summer Olympics logo above and ’50 PENCE’ below.”