Benjamin Bunny 50p coin could be worth a fortune

A rare coin expert says you could easily have a 50p coin which is listed for sale at £150,000

A rare coin expert has explained how you could easily have a 50p coin which is listed for sale at £150,000.

Coincollectingwizard, a user on coin forum Coin Centre, is an expert who frequently posts about rare coins that people may unknowingly have in their possession.

On this occasion, he discussed the Benjamin Bunny 50p, which was struck in 2017 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of author Beatrix Potter. It was part of the Beatrix Potter collection designed by Emma Noble, the Royal Mint says. The whole series consists of 15 coins each featuring one of Potter’s characters.

The reverse of the coin features the mischievous Benjamin Bunny, wearing the tam o'shanter hat borrowed from Mr McGregor's scarecrow, while the obverse shows the last coinage portrait of Elizabeth II, designed by Jody Clark.

The coin is actually among the most common 50ps around - but some are up for sale for crazy money. Coincollectingwizard adds: "Twenty-nine people are watching this auction for a Benjamin Bunny 50p up for £150,085.72p. Do you have one?

"This coin was released in 2017 as part of the Beatrix Potter collection. With a whopping 25million minted, it's one of the most common 50p coins out there. You'll probably find one in your change faster than you can say 'flopsy bunnies'.

"And in most cases, guess what? It's worth just 50p. Of course, some people like to slap ridiculous prices on common coins hoping someone will fall for it. To avoid getting scammed, watch this trick - always filter by 'sold items' to see what they've actually sold for.

"Spoiler alert - most Benajmin Bunny 50ps sell for just 50p. But wait - there is one exception. A rare rotation error exists on some Benajmin Bunny 50ps. When you flip the coin, the Queen's head will be straight in most cases, but some have a rotation error. If your coin has a noticeable rotation error, it could fetch £30 or more - not bad for a lucky little bunny.

"So, next time you see a Benajmin Bunny 50p, skip the eBay nonsense and do the flip test - you never know, yours could be worth more than just 50p."

The coin he mentions is, at the time of writing, still on sale on eBay for a whopping £150,085.72p. There are 1574 people watching it. Another is on for £35,000, although this does not mean it will necessarily reach this price.

As for error coins, there is one claiming to have a lump on the rabbit's foot which is for sale for £25,086.72p. It has 43 people watching the sale.