Rare 2011 Judo 50p Coin Fetches Over 20x Face Value Online

A commemorative 50p coin celebrating the 2012 London Olympics, designed by David Cornell, fetched over 20 times its face value in an online auction. The rare coin, part of a series commissioned by the Royal Mint, sold for £10.50, despite a mintage of 2,958,000, due to its low circulation. The Mint advises collectors to consider mintage numbers when valuing coins and recommends consulting experts for guidance.

Rare 2011 Judo 50p Coin Sells for Over 20 Times Its Face Value on Online Marketplace

A commemorative 2011 Judo 50p coin, minted in celebration of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, has been sold on an online marketplace for £10.50, far exceeding its original face value. The winning bid surpassed the coin's value by more than 20 times, attracting an additional postage fee of £2.20 for the buyer.

The coin, part of a special collection honoring the Olympic Games, was the result of a public competition hosted by the Royal Mint. David Cornell, a painter and sculptor, submitted the winning design for the Judo coin out of 30,000 entries.

"In the lead-up to the London 2012 Olympics, the Royal Mint organized a coin design competition to create a series of 50p coins centered around Olympic sports," said a Royal Mint spokesperson. "Open to the public, the competition yielded 29 designs and introduced the UK's youngest-ever coin designer, aged nine."

Ranging from the highest mintage of 3,345,500 for the Archery coin designed by Piotr Powaga to the lowest of 1,129,500 for the Wrestling coin by Roderick Enriquez, the Olympic coins have become sought-after collectibles due to their limited mintage.

The Royal Mint advises potential sellers to consider the coin's mintage when offering it on the secondary market, as coins with significantly low mintage tend to fetch higher prices. Collectors are encouraged to research and determine the number of coins in circulation before setting a price. In cases of uncertainty, consulting an expert is highly recommended.