A rare 50p coin has fetched more than 200 times its face value after an online auction.
The Atlantic Salmon piece drew 37 bids on eBay before being snapped up for £123.
Released by the Royal Mint in 2023, only 200,000 copies of the coin were ever produced.
The coin celebrates British wildlife and the accession of King Charles III, depicting the Atlantic salmon as a priority conservation species in UK waters.
King Charles Salmon 50p sells 8 times face value. (Image: eBay)
The reverse features a leaping Atlantic salmon alongside the King Charles III royal cypher, while the obverse bears the official uncrowned portrait of King Charles III by Martin Jennings.
It is officially ranked by the Royal Mint as the rarest 50p coin in active UK circulation, having ended the 15-year reign of the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p.
With just 200,000 released into banks and post offices, finding one in loose change remains exceptionally rare.
What makes a coin valuable?
The 50p piece provides a distinct heptagonal canvas for coin designers.
With a diameter of 27.5mm, it is the largest British coin in circulation and offers space for commemorative artwork.
Rarity serves as the primary factor driving collector demand and market prices.
Low mintage figures mean fewer examples exist to buy or trade.
Coin condition also plays an important role, with well-preserved specimens securing higher prices.
Collectors also prize unusual design errors and striking flaws that escape the mint.
Sales avenues can influence the price realised for a rare coin.
Sellers often turn to competitive online bidding on eBay to test market demand.
Others prefer formal valuations from professional coin dealers to establish a certified market value.
Royal Mint top 10 most valuable 50p coins
Royal Mint mintage figures confirm the rarest 50p designs to enter general circulation:
The 2023 Atlantic Salmon coin holds the title as the rarest 50p design in circulation.
Anyone checking their loose change is urged to keep an eye out for these scarce editions.
