Rare 50p coin sells for 284 times its value after sparking bidding war

The Kew Gardens 50p

A rare 50p coin has been sold for a whopping £142 – a staggering 284 times its original value after an intense online bidding war.

Coins can often be worth more than their face value, and collectors are always eager to get their hands on them. This particular coin is thought to be worth around £140, so the seller got a bit of extra luck this time.

The coin was made in 2009 to celebrate 250 years since Kew Gardens opened in 1759. The Royal Mint thinks about 210,000 were made.

It shows the famous Chinese Pagoda at the Royal Botanic Garden on one side and the late Queen’s face on the other.

On eBay, it was listed as a ‘Kew Gardens Rare 50p Coin 2009’ and started at £19. 99, reports The Echo. But after a 13-way bidding war, it ended up selling for £142. The buyer also had to pay £4. 99 for ‘economy delivery’.

There are thought to be about 210,000 of these coins out there, so it might be worth checking down the back of the sofa. If you find one, the first thing you should do is check the date on it.

This is because the Royal Mint made more of these coins in 2019 to celebrate 50 years of the 50p, and these ones don’t usually sell for as much. However, they have been known to sell for around £70 or £80 on eBay, so you could still get a nice surprise.

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