New 50p coin knocks Kew Gardens design off top spot as rarest in the UK

The coin collectors' feed analyses how rare coins may be and the reason for changes in their rarity.

A new 50p coin has been unveiled as the rarest in the UK, knocking the Kew Gardens coin off the top spot.

TikTok feed @coincheckerUK was excited about the new development.

The coin collectors' feed analyses how rare coins may be and the reason for changes in their rarity.

The collecting side @change checkers was thrilled to tell its followers the news as a woman said: "Change checkers, we have some extremely exciting news to share with you. Britain has a new rest 50p coin! It's just been announced that the 2023 Salmon 50p has knocked the Kew Gardens 50p off the top spot as it has a mintage of just 200,000. This means for the first time in 15 years, we have a new rarest 50p for collectors to look put for!

"And the best part is, you could have one in your pocket right now. If you're one of the lucky few to have found a Salmon 50p in your change, let us know where you found it in the comments as we'd love to know where they're popping up around the country."

Commenters on the feed were quick to spill the beans on their own finds.

One person said: "I got three sealed bags from the post office. So glad I did now."

Another lucky change checker poster said he had discovered the coins at work.

He said "In my shop till Hertfodrshire Ross on Wye, It's on eBay for £99, no privy mark.

Another person added: "It's funny that people are paying over £100 for the one with the privy mark yet royal mail are still the 2023 with the privy for £34"

And a further poster said: "The problem is the new Salmon 50p is not a Commemorative Coin, so even though people are going crazy about it, the 2009 Kew Gardens will remain the most collectable."

The Mirror reported TikTok user @CoinCollectingWizard, who boasts 212,000 followers, revealed three special penny coins to keep an eye on – with one worth £1million.

So do you have any of these?

He said: "In 1950, they only made 240,000 coins that means for £1,000 you could have bought all the 1950 pennies ever made. After the war there was a great shortage of small change.

"So to find a 1950 UK pre-decimal penny today, you are looking at between £30-£70, depending on condition."

Next up was the 1918 KN penny which the value "depends on the condition".

The user added: "A good grade 1918 KN penny can be over £30 but as the condition increases, such as an extra fine version, you would be looking at over £600."

But while these are worth a few pounds or hundreds, there's an even more valuable coin.