King Charles III 50p Coins Hit Circulation, Fetch Premium Prices

A commemorative 50p coin featuring King Charles' portrait has sold for £2,500 on eBay. The coin is the second 50p in circulation bearing King Charles' official coin portrait, which was created by sculptor Martin Jennings and personally approved by the King. The reverse design of the coin depicts Westminster Abbey, with the King's official cypher at the center.

New Issue of 50p Coins Bearing King Charles III Portrait Enters Circulation, Fetching Premium Prices

London, UK - The Royal Mint has released a new series of 50p coins featuring the profile of King Charles III, marking a historic transition in British coinage. The coins, which are entering general circulation, are the second 50ps to bear the King's official portrait, following the commemorative memorial 50p coins released in December 2022.

Unlike the special coronation coins unveiled earlier this year, the newly issued 50ps feature the King's uncrowned portrait on the obverse (heads) side. The reverse (tails) design depicts Westminster Abbey, the setting for King Charles III's coronation ceremony. The design is completed by the King's official cypher, representing his presence at the abbey during his coronation.

The 50p coins have already generated significant interest among collectors, with one coin recently fetching £2,500 on eBay. This particular coin was the first 50p with the King's portrait to be released into circulation.

Commenting on the new coins, a spokesperson for the Royal Mint said: "We are delighted to introduce this new series of 50p coins featuring the King's portrait. The coins commemorate this important transition in our country's history and will serve as a tangible reminder of King Charles III's coronation."

The Royal Mint also revealed its top 10 most valuable 50p coins, with the Kew Gardens 50p, designed to mark the 250th anniversary of the gardens in 2009, topping the list. Only 210,000 coins were minted with this design, making it highly sought-after by collectors. The Kew Gardens 50p typically sells for around £156.25, but one seller recently received over £700 for one on eBay.

Other notable inclusions in the top 10 include seven Olympic 50p coins from the 2012 Olympic Games, highlighting the popularity of these commemorative issues.

As the new 50p coins enter circulation, collectors are encouraged to check their change carefully for any potential rarities. While it is unlikely that any of the coins will reach the same levels of value as the Kew Gardens 50p, certain coins with unique characteristics or low mintages could command a premium.