Check your change and down the back of the sofa after a rare 50p coin sold for £139, 250 times its value, on an eBay auction

The beautiful 50p coin was released in 2009 to mark 250 years since the opening of Kew Gardens in 1759.

A rare 50p coin has sold for £139 on an eBay auction - making it 250 times more valuable than its original worth.

The beautiful coin was released in 2009 to mark 250 years since the opening of Kew Gardens in 1759.

It shows in detail the Chinese Pagoda at the Royal Botanic Gardens on the tails side and a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II as its head.

Around 210,000 copies of the coin were produced by The Royal Mint, which lists the anniversary Kew Gardens coin as one of its rarest.

After being listed on online auction site eBay, the 50p coin attracted 20 bids before eventually selling for £139.

What makes a coin valuable?

The 50 pence piece has become the most valued and collected coin in the UK, with many collectable designs appearing on its heptagonal canvas.

Its larger 27.5mm diameter allows more space for the team to create special illustrations. It is the showpiece coin that the mint uses to celebrate big events in British history.

The rarest coins tend to be the most valuable, with the mintage (number of coins with each design made) also playing a key part in how much collectors will pay.

Its condition is also important - so collectors keep rare coins safe from damage.

What are the rarest 50p coins in circulation the UK?

The Royal Mint has revealed the most valuable 50p coins in its collection.

Here's a list of the rarest 50p coins currently in circulation in the UK:

- Atlantic Salmon (2023), 200,000

- Kew Gardens (2009), 210,000

- Olympic Wrestling (2011), 1,129,500

- Olympic Football (2011), 1,161,500

- Olympic Judo (2011), 1,161,500

- Olympic Triathlon (2011), 1,163,500

- Peter Rabbit (2018), 1,400,000

- Flopsy Bunny (2018), 1,400,000

- Olympic Tennis (2011), 1,454,000

- Olympic Goalball (2011), 1,615,500

Until recently, the Kew Gardens 50p coin was the rarest of its kind in circulation in the UK.

However, a 50p coin depicting the Atlantic Salmon and bearing the King’s portrait has now been confirmed as the rarest 50p coin in circulation, according to the Royal Mint.

Only 200,000 of the Atlantic Salmon 50ps have been released to UK banks and post offices, making it 10,000 less than the 2009 Kew Gardens coin.