50p “Scarcity Index” Launched – discover which UK 50p coins are the most collectable

By Change Checker | April 12, 2017 |

Can’t wait – click here to reveal the UK’s “scarcest” 50p coin

Change Checker has launched the 50p “Scarcity Index”, which tracks which circulating 50p coins are the most scarce and collectable. 

The index uses a unique combination of mintage, collecting and swap data to give the most up-to-date picture of today’s 50p coin collecting market.

The top 5

There’s no surprise to find Kew Gardens at the top of the list.  With a mintage of just 210,000, it is also the least owned and most requested swap.  The next 4 scarcest coins are all from the 2012 Olympics – Football, Triathlon, Judo and Wrestling.

The recent Beatrix Potter 50p coins also rank highly, with Jemima Puddle-Duck and Squirrel Nutkin coming in at numbers 6 and 7 – based largely on their low level of ownership and high swap requests, as official mintages are yet to be confirmed by the Royal Mint.

Click here to see the full list

How the Scarcity Index works

Generally collectors have had to rely upon mintage figures to identify the scarcest coins.  But they only tell part of the story.  Trying to find a good quality coin from 15 – 20 years ago, even for a higher mintage issue, is much more challenging than a more recent issue, as coins become damaged over time and are ultimately removed from circulation.

Additionally, some designs are more hoarded than others by people who might not normally collect coins – the Beatrix Potter issues being a classic example.  Finally, it can be up to a couple of years before the Royal Mint eventually confirms the actual mintage for an issue.

That’s why we have combined the mintage information with two other key pieces of information.

  • How many of each design are listed as “collected” by Change Checkers, indicating the relative ease of finding a particular coin.
  • The number of times a design has been requested as a swap over the previous 3 months, showing the current level of collector demand.

Importantly, as new coins are released and popularity rises and falls across different designs the Scarcity Index will be updated quarterly allowing Change Checkers to track the relative performance of the UK’s circulation coins.

How much are my coins worth?

The Scarcity Index does not necessarily equate to value but it is certainly an effective indicator.  Whilst Kew Gardens 50p coins command prices on eBay of between £70 and £100, other coins towards the top of the scarcity index typically achieve a premium of roughly 10 – 12 times face value.

But don’t forget the joy of Change Collecting is that you have always have a chance of finding any one of these coins in your change – even Kew Gardens – you just have to be sharp-eyed.

What about £1 and £2 Coins?

The £1 Scarcity Index has already been published for the round £1 coins and, because they are no longer being issued, this is now set in stone.  Change Checker will be releasing the £2 Scarcity Index later in April.

Posted in 50p Coins, Blog Home, Scarcity Index

71 Comments

  1. Lynsay McLaughlan on May 7, 2017 at 2:56 pm

    How much is a 2016 Beatrice Potter 50p worth ? Thanks



  2. Suella Siddle on May 7, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    Hi there everyone I am hoping to get the last coin I need but it’s the rarest Kew Gardens 50p can anyone help me with my quest? Can’t afford a fortune for it thoe plz help
    Regards sidzz



  3. Hasan desai on May 2, 2017 at 6:18 pm

    I have a minted the rare Jew gardens 50p price and want to sell it plz contact me if any 1 interested. Dez 07950367430



  4. Hasan desai on May 2, 2017 at 8:11 am

    I have a Kew Gardens 50 and want to sell it. Please contact me if any 1 interested. 07950357430



    • Valerie Strange on May 9, 2017 at 9:04 am

      Very interested



  5. Darryl Chetty on April 29, 2017 at 8:11 am

    Is anyone having problem with the swap part of change checker.



  6. Greg on April 27, 2017 at 1:09 am

    I have 2p coin 1971 . Error printed NEW PENCE , also just for check 50p BENJAMIN BRITTEN 2013y.



  7. Tilly Green on April 26, 2017 at 8:15 am

    Where does the blue peter 50p feature in the list of raretiesj



  8. steven on April 25, 2017 at 2:55 pm

    hard to believe squirrel nutkin and jemima puddle duck are rated so scarce as i come across either one at least once a day perhaps my job as a bus driver is a benefit in these cases, i have three collections of all beatrix potters for my grandchildren and still have a few leftovers that my wife says keep



  9. Kyia on April 18, 2017 at 8:57 am

    I have a blow buggies blow 50p how much is this worth ?



    • David Allwright on April 18, 2017 at 5:14 pm

      I think you mean Blow Bugle Blow, which is actually in the coin hobby a Benjamin Britten. Scarcity index rated 1*



  10. Sheila Innes on April 17, 2017 at 6:15 pm

    I have two 50ps of No. 510n your list as posted in FB. They have part of a harp, a line down the middle, and what looks like lions or gryphons. How much are these worth individually, if anything?



  11. Hazel on April 17, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    I have a 2011 50p number 22 on the list how much is it worth



  12. Rita Orange on April 17, 2017 at 10:38 am

    If anybody is still looking for Olympic coins, get in touch with me



  13. steven hair on April 16, 2017 at 5:44 pm

    i hav a battle of hastings 50p any offers



  14. Sophie Miller on April 16, 2017 at 5:17 am

    Hi I have a brand new shaped £1 coin dated 2016…
    Is it normal for this be in circulation?
    Is it worth more than face value please?



  15. Steve Clarke on April 15, 2017 at 9:42 am

    As per usual you have forgotten the rarest 50 pence ever issued by the Royal Mint, 1992-93 EU coin. Why do lists like this consistently do this ?????????
    I realise it is a “large” 50 pence



  16. Siobhan Cavanagh on April 14, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    I have nutkin squirrel 50pence how much is it worth.



  17. T on April 14, 2017 at 5:20 pm

    I also have the full set of 24 £1 coins. And a misprinted 2011 £2 coin (queens head upside down)



  18. T on April 14, 2017 at 5:17 pm

    I belive i have found a rare new £1 coin. It has several printing errors. Where or who do i conatct? TIA



  19. Christopher matthews on April 14, 2017 at 8:48 am

    Change checker is a Brilliant idea for getting people to start collecting coins especialy for the kids



  20. Danny on April 13, 2017 at 10:16 pm

    I have a battle of hastings 50p



  21. Paul Pinchbeck on April 13, 2017 at 8:10 pm

    Hi I’m looking for a Kew Gardens 50p to complete my collection,could swap coins or pay a fair price



  22. Louise on April 13, 2017 at 2:51 pm

    I have nutkin the squrial



  23. Justin Case on April 13, 2017 at 1:49 pm

    I have a 50p with the queens head on it. How much is that worth?



    • Rebecca on April 14, 2017 at 9:54 am

      50p?



  24. Martin on April 13, 2017 at 12:51 pm

    I was lucky enough to get a Kew Gardens 50p in my change a couple of weeks ago.



  25. Natasha Baigrie on April 13, 2017 at 12:39 pm

    I have two Beatrix potter 50p coins
    Jemima puddle duck and miss twiggy winkle what are they worth.



  26. Irene Pervin on April 13, 2017 at 10:41 am

    I have a 50p which is No.19 (FairPlay) on list what is this worth if anything and what do I do with it .



  27. Kimberley on April 13, 2017 at 10:30 am

    I have one with Peter rabbit on it how much is it worth pls



    • Justin Case on April 13, 2017 at 1:47 pm

      It’s worth what anyone is willing to pay. I would estimate you will find some moron who will pay you £5 for your 50p. Well done.



  28. Kimberley on April 13, 2017 at 10:29 am

    I have 50p with Peter rabbit on it how much is it worth pls



  29. Maria Mcdonagh on April 13, 2017 at 10:27 am

    Hi where can I sale my coins



    • David Allwright / Stamps n All on April 13, 2017 at 10:43 am

      eBay



  30. David Allwright / Stamps n All on April 13, 2017 at 7:54 am

    The rarest of all 50ps if one takes into consideration including the old large size is actually the 1992 Single Market Mintage is only 109,000. Just over half the mintage figure for Kew Gardens but currently sells for much less.

    I must really congratulate Change Checker because sites like this are really generating a new interest in coin collecting along with The Royal Mint when they started the Great Coin hunt in 2012 to coincide with the Olympic games.



    • Xavier on April 13, 2017 at 12:31 pm

      I agree because since I have the exact coin you are talking about, when I hold it and feel it it is quite significant from the rest.



  31. Maria on April 13, 2017 at 7:51 am

    I have a football one how much are they worth? Or should i keep it?



  32. Jellybear4 on April 13, 2017 at 7:24 am

    Im going to the royal mint today…



  33. Hannah Norton-Barker on April 13, 2017 at 6:55 am

    I have a Mrs Tiggy-Winkle 50p. Not sure how much I can get for it.



  34. A walton on April 13, 2017 at 3:05 am

    I have the 50p coin Battle of Britain 1940.



  35. Dylan on April 13, 2017 at 2:00 am

    My 50p coin says it’s one of the 24 rarest coins, how much could the no.36(NHS) 50p be worth?



  36. Barry J Evans on April 12, 2017 at 11:31 pm

    hi, the 1992-93 presidency of ec council 50p had a mintage of 109,000 so shouldn’t this be the highest on the scarcity index?



    • Yasmin Britton on April 13, 2017 at 9:36 am

      hi Barry, yes you’re right but that 50p is no longer in circulation. Our scarcity index only details UK 50p’s in circulation. Hope this helps. Thanks, Yasmin



  37. Caroline saily on April 12, 2017 at 9:40 pm

    I have a £2 coin with charles dickens head on the back and on his head it says all of his novels all the way down his face is this a rare coin?



  38. Christopher matthews on April 12, 2017 at 8:28 pm

    When will the new beartrix potter 50p coins comming out



    • David Allwright / Stamps n All on April 13, 2017 at 9:41 am

      The new Peter rabbit coin is available from the Royal Mint BUNC at £10. I have been told there is plans for another 6 Beatrix Potter coins for 2017. No details as yet available. should be an interesting year for 50ps



  39. Bekki on April 12, 2017 at 7:57 pm

    I don’t understand the value of my 50p could u explain it to me in more detail plz



  40. Sam on April 12, 2017 at 6:14 pm

    I have a new one pound that looks like a miss strike it’s 2016 it’s got a rounded edge on one side of coin and clearly looks like it’s had a join in the metal on the out side edge



  41. wendy leeds on April 12, 2017 at 5:43 pm

    I have a Peter Rabbit 50p piece how do i find out what it may be worth please?



  42. Charlie on April 12, 2017 at 4:34 pm

    I have willam Shakespeare 2 pound coin with a skull with a rose



    • Andrew on April 12, 2017 at 7:29 pm

      3 in the set to collect



    • Jellybear4 on April 13, 2017 at 7:24 am

      I had that one,but sold it for around 8 pound in the end.



  43. Mike on April 12, 2017 at 3:44 pm

    I’m a milkman so deal with lots of change every week and customer of mine showed me a 2p coin last week with No Queens head it has two tails sides have you come across this before m



    • David Allwright on April 13, 2017 at 7:45 am

      I am a coin dealer. I have seen a number of these type coins over the year. All have been created to produce a novelty coin by filing down 2 coins and joining the together. I currently have a 10p with lion on and a 2p head side. I recently had a £1 coin made into a puzzle.



  44. Mark Lenoir on April 12, 2017 at 3:04 pm

    What’s the difference between VC 1 and 2. Please



    • Yasmin Britton on April 12, 2017 at 5:03 pm

      Hi Mark sorry for the confusion, VC1 is the Victoria Cross Medal and VC2 is the Heroic Acts 50p. Hope this helps. Thanks, Yasmin



  45. simon ewbank on April 12, 2017 at 1:21 pm

    I take it the isle of man TT motorbike 50p coins are not included on this list.



    • Yasmin Britton on April 12, 2017 at 5:02 pm

      Hi Simon, we currently only list UK coins on Change Checker. We may look to add coins from the British Isles in the future though. Hope this helps. Thanks, Yasmin



  46. Amy McGivern on April 12, 2017 at 12:10 pm

    I have a few 50ps that I think are worth some money is there anyway I could send pictures and get an estimation?



    • Yasmin Britton on April 12, 2017 at 1:05 pm

      Hi Amy, unfortunately we do not offer valuations. It is probably best to check eBay for a price indication. Hope this helps. Thanks, Yasmin



    • Mezzie on April 12, 2017 at 2:19 pm

      They are worth 50p plus whatever collectors are willing to pay to have the coin.E.Bay sometimes has silly prices, which makes us think coins are worth more than is realistic.



  47. Beryl Long on April 12, 2017 at 10:58 am

    Just started to collect a few coins, so great fun checking our change when we go shopping.



  48. Marie on April 12, 2017 at 10:41 am

    Hi I have this 2 pounds coin it has the w writeing upside down it 1809.darwin.2009