Rare 2009 Kew Gardens 50p coin sells for £156

A rare 50p coin, known as the Kew Gardens piece, has recently sold for over 300 times its face value at an eBay auction. The coin went for £156, surprising many collectors. This coin was first issued in 2009 to mark the 250th anniversary of the Kew Gardens. Only 210,000 Kew Gardens coins were made, making them very rare. While you may not sell yours for £156, other recent sales show it can still fetch good prices, with sales of £137, £130, and £78. The design features the iconic Chinese Pagoda at Kew, surrounded by a leafy plant. According to The Royal Mint, this coin is among the top collectors' favorites and ranks second on their list of the rarest 50p coins, right after the Atlantic Salmon coin introduced in 2023. Rare coins are often valued based on how many were minted or if a manufacturing error occurred. The Royal Mint provides information on mintage figures, which helps determine a coin's value. Other error coins, like the HG Wells £2 coin, can sell for up to £1,000. If you want to sell a rare coin, options include eBay, Facebook, or auctions. It's safest to sell at auction or through The Royal Mint's Collectors Service, which helps authenticate and value coins, though a fee is charged. Before selling, check how similar coins are priced to ensure you list yours competitively.