The FIRST King Charles III 50p joins the Scarcity Index!

It’s the Scarcity Index update we’ve all been waiting for, as the FIRST EVER King Charles III 50p finally makes an appearance!

4.9 million of these coins entered circulation in December 2022 and collectors have since been finding them in their change, adding them to their collections and swapping with other collectors.

2022 UK Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 50p reverse and obverse
2022 UK Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 50p reverse and obverse

But it’s time to reveal just how sought-after this new release really is…

Continue reading to find out and to discover the UK’s most sought after circulation 10p, 50p and £2s and see where the coins in your collection rank against the others you can find in your change.

This information has been compiled using data from the Change Checker Swap Centre and presented in the easy to use indexes below, with arrows to signify how many places up or down a coin has moved since the last Scarcity Index update.

50p Scarcity Index

50p Scarcity Index
50p Scarcity Index

The 50p index has seen quite a bit of movement since our last update, with a few coins shooting up the ranks, and a few gradually moving down. However, perhaps the most exciting update is the addition of the FIRST EVER King Charles III 50p!

The 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Memorial 50p (marked above with a star) appears on the scarcity index for the first time since entering circulation late last year. On 8th December 2022, 4.9 million 50ps entered circulation featuring King Charles III for the first time. We tracked the new coin up and down the country with our collector map, and it turned out the place you’re most likely to find a King Charles III 50p was Newcastle!

The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial 50p currently ranks as common on our scarcity index as it may not have made its way into many collections, and those who have found one have probably been reluctant to swap it. Watch this space though, as this new circulating coin could cause quite the shake up in the next Scarcity Index update!

Aside from the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial 50p, the biggest mover is the Ironside 50p, which has fallen 16 places since the last update. It’s unclear what’s caused this 10 year old coin to fall in the ranks, however with a circulating mintage of 7,000,000, you’re fairly likely to come across one in your change.

Another big mover is the Handball Olympic 50p which has climbed an astonishing 14 places, putting it in the top 10 with the other Olympic 50ps and of course the Kew Gardens 50p, which remains in the top spot.

If you’re new to collecting and want to find out more about circulation coins, you can check out our fact files here >>

Otherwise, keep reading to find out which 10ps and £2 coins you should be looking out for.

10p Scarcity Index

10p Scarcity Index
10p Scarcity Index

Whilst the top and bottom of our latest 10p Scarcity Index has remained stable, there has been a bit of a shake up among the coins in the middle.

Whilst Oak and Yeoman Warders have moved up 8 and 6 places respectively, Bond and NHS have both moved down by 10 places.

This comes as some surprise, as these were previously considered some of the most popular of the A-Z 10p coins.

It’s worth remembering that this Index is only ranking the 10ps against each other, when really even the ones at the bottom of the list are still incredibly sought-after and even now (4 years on since they were last released) they are still the coins every collector seems to talk about!

And that’s no surprise, as a maximum of JUST 304,000 of each A-Z 10p design entered circulation across 2018 and 2019 – making them some of the rarest coins out there. So make sure you keep your eyes peeled for them in your change!

£2 Scarcity Index

£2 Scarcity Index
£2 Scarcity Index

The top of the £2 index has remained stable, with those Commonwealth Games £2s proving to be the ones to look out for. And, with mintages ranging from just 485,000 to 771,750, you can see why these rare £2s are so sought-after!

We tend to see less movement on the £2 index due to the fact less coins have entered circulation in recent years.

However, it’s worth remembering just how rare and collectable some of these coins are, even after being in circulation for so many years.

A few others creeping up the ranks are the Florence Nightingale, London 2012 Handover and Darwin £2s, whilst Trinity House and Shakespeare Histories have taken a bit of a dip.

But, with less £2s entering circulation, it’s certainly worth holding onto any coins you can find, before they’re snapped up!

How your Scarcity Index works

Generally collectors have relied on 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.

What’s more, some designs are more hoarded than others by people who might not normally collect coins – for example the First World War £2 Coin series.

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. This allows Change Checkers to track the relative performance of the UK’s circulation coins.

How much are my coins worth?

The Scarcity Index doesn’t necessarily equate to value, but it is certainly a good indicator. For example, the Kew Gardens 50p coin commands a premium of up to 200 times face value on eBay and is unsurprisingly top of the 50p Index.

You can use our 6 point guide to help you determine a more realistic value for your coins.

What about £1 Coins?

The £1 Scarcity Index has already been published for the Round £1 coins. Because they are no longer being issued, this is now set in stone.

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The coins with THREE different dates on them…

Have you heard about the coins with THREE different dates?

  • It was approved by Queen Elizabeth II in 2022
  • It was re-approved by King Charles III in 2023
  • It features ‘1922’ as a date on the obverse

And if these circumstances weren’t unusual enough, the coins releases also missed the 100th anniversary they were commemorating.

These three dates can be seen on the brand new Tutankhamun 50p coins. If you can’t wait to add them to your own collection, click here >>

The Coin With Three Dates - featuring King Charles III's portrait on the obverse.
King Charles III’s effigy on a new Tutankhamun 50p coin. Click here to get yours >>

Otherwise, continue reading to discover how this happened and why the coins are set to become the most collectable coins in years

How do the coins have three dates?

In 1922, Howard Carter uncovered a step in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt.   

That step ended up being the start of a staircase that led to a tomb – the tomb of Tutankhamun. 

To mark the anniversary of the incredible discovery, a brand new set of 50p coins were authorised in 2022 by the Isle of Man.

These 50ps then went to Buckingham Palace for approval.

The Queen approved the coins, but that ended up being one of her last official acts before her sad passing on 8 September 2022. 

The Coin With Three Dates was originally due to have Queen Elizabeth II's portrait on the obverse and be only dual-dated.
Example of the Queen Elizabeth II portrait on the Tutankhamun 50p

Her death put all new coins on hold.

Mints around the world halted production to observe the mourning period and await palace instructions. 

When this came, the Isle of Man was instructed to re-submit an application to the Palace, this time for the approval of His Majesty King Charles III.  

The problem? This was late in 2022. Would the Isle of Man get approval from the King before the year of the anniversary passed? 

In short, no. 

Palace approval came through in January 2023.

The coins features the same reverse, showing 1922 and 2022 commemorating the centenary anniversary.

But the obverse – now featuring the first British Isles King Charles III portrait – carries the year 2023.

King Charles III’s effigy on the brand new Tutankhamun 50p coins. Get yours here >>

So that’s how the coins came to have three dates on it. But what does this mean for it’s collectability?

The power of strange…

Quirks like this are very few and far between… In fact, i’ve never heard of a coin like these.

The closest example came about due to the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

When the Olympic Games were postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to the pandemic, it led to a design quirk that created a collecting frenzy for a particular 50p.

Issued in the 2020 Annual Coin Set, the Team GB 50p was issued to mark our athletes participation in the upcoming Tokyo Games.

So, when the games were postponed, so was this coin’s individual issue.

Eventually issued in 2021, this 50p become one of just a handful of coins to feature a dual-date – 2020 on the reverse and 2021 on the obverse.

The coin sold out in a flash.

So considering the popularity of the dual-dated Team GB 50p, you can understand why coins with THREE dates, such as the Tutankhamun 50ps, are a must-have.

If you haven’t yet got your hands on these coins with three dates on them yet, head to the Westminster Collection website here to view their remaining stock >>

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Vote for your all-time favourite circulating QEII 50p

As the Pride 50p marks the last UK coin to enter circulation with QEII’s portrait on the obverse, we asked you to vote for your top circulating QEII 50p!

King Charles III’s new coinage will begin circulating from December – starting with the brand new Queen Elizabeth II Memorial 50p. So, it’s the perfect time to look back at an astonishing 70 years of top QEII 50p issues.

From the UK’s rarest 50p (Kew Gardens), to the biggest range of sporting coins (Olympic 50ps), it’s understandably a hard task to pick a favourite.

Your top circulating QEII 50p!

The results are in! Your top circulating QEII 50p is…

Top 5 Circulating Queen Elizabeth II 50p coin. Ranked from 1st to 5th
Isaac Newton
WWF
Kew Gardens
D-Day
Platinum Jubilee
Top 5 Circulating Queen Elizabeth II 50p coin.

2017 Sir Isaac Newton 50p

Issued in 2017, this coin has a mintage of just 1,801,500, ranking it as less common on our Scarcity Index.

The reverse of this striking coin is based on elements of Proposition 11, in Book One of Newton’s Principia Mathematica.

P.S. did you know Newton is one of the most famous figures to ever hold the role of Master of the Mint?

Get your hands on this coin >>

2011 WWF 50p

Coming in very close second, is the WWF 50p.

The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) is the largest conservation organisation in the world.

They focus their work on saving endangered species and conserving the world’s most precious natural places.

In 2011, to mark their 50th anniversary, The Royal Mint issued this 50p coin.

It features 50 different icons to represent the variety of work they’re involved with.

2009 Kew Gardens 50p

In third spot, is the UK’s rarest 50p coin, the Kew Gardens.

Just 210,000 of these 50ps entered circulation, and over 13 years later, it’s still one of the most sought-after coins EVER.

It repeatedly takes top spot on our Scarcity Index, with collectors keen to add it to their collection.

However, it’s important to know the difference between a real, fake, or re-issued Kew Gardens.

Find out on our blog >>


Get the First King Charles III Effigy Collecting Pack

9.6 million King Charles 50ps are set to enter circulation. So, collectors stand a very good chance of getting their hands on this new release.

Once you’ve found this coin in your change you can add it to the pack, creating the perfect pair of KCIII first effigy coins!

Secure your Change Checker King Charles III First Effigy Collecting Pack here >>

So, get ready to start your hunt for the new 50p in your change!