The rarest 50p coin in circulation has been revealed by the Royal Mint

A 50p coin with an image of an Atlantic Salmon and King Charles' portrait is now the rarest 50p coin in circulation, the Royal Mint has revealed.

A 50p coin featuring an Atlantic Salmon and King Charles' portrait has been revealed as the rarest 50p coin in circulation by the Royal Mint.

Latest mintage figures show just 200,000 of these coins were released to UK banks and Post Offices at the end of last year.

It means the 50p coin depicting the Atlantic Salmon has knocked the fabled 2009 Kew Gardens 50p as the rarest circulating coin off the top spot for the first time - and with it, experts predict they could leap in value. 

Making a splash: The Royal Mint has announced that the 50p Atlantic Salmon coin is now the ratest coin in circulation

A total of 210,000 2009 Kew Gardens coins were released into circulation 15 years ago, which made them the rarest 50p coin in circulation.

If you are lucky enough to find a 2009 Kew Gardens 50p coin in your change, on eBay these coins can fetch north of £150.

But now, Atlantic Salmon coins are being listed on eBay for upwards of £50 to £70, and that's just a drop in the ocean.

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One coin has a buy it now price of £500, meanwhile eager collectors are bidding upwards of £50 for individual 50p coins.

Coins from a sealed bag fetch the highest bids on eBay. 

One currently live listing with 11 coins in a sealed bag, 10 of which are the 50p Atlantic Salmon coins with one 'different coin' currently has a bid of £853. Bidding started at £350 and there have been 13 bids so far.

The new 50p Atlantic Salmon coins entered into circulation at the end of 2022 and in 2023 all coins featuring King Charles entered into circulation, with coins commemorating the coronation and new designs across all denominations from the 1p - £2.

Each design highlights King Charles III's passion for conservation and the natural world, featuring wildlife such as the hazel dormouse and bees.

A sealed bag of 10 of the 50p Atlantic Salmon coins is listed on eBay with a current bid of £853

The 50p coin is the nation's most collectable coin and has had 100 different designs appear on its reverse (tails) since its introduction.

These include designs for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games and milestone Royal occasions such as His Majesty King Charles III coronation, and even popular culture such as Paddington and Harry Potter.

Rebecca Morgan, of The Royal Mint said; 'The releasing of mintage figures is an eagerly anticipated event among the coin collecting community – and this year is particularly exciting as we reveal the Atlantic Salmon as the rarest 50p in circulation.

'For the first time in 15 years, the highly collectable Kew Gardens 50p loses its top spot as the rarest in circulation with the Atlantic Salmon 50p splashing its way to number one.

'2023 marked pivotal changes for the nation's coinage, including the introduction of coins celebrating King Charles III's coronation entering circulation. 

'Finding these special designs, like the Atlantic Salmon, in your change is a win for all collectors.'

The rarest 50p coins have a mintage of 250,000 or less

Generally speaking, the lower the mintage, the rarer the coin and the harder it will be to find.

The Royal Mint has released mintage figures for the 10 rarest 50p coins in circulation so you can see where your coin ranks.

1. 2023 Atlantic Salmon UK 50p - mintage 200,000

2. 2009 Kew Gardens UK 50p - mintage 210,000

3. 2011 Olympic Football UK 50p - mintage 1,125,500

4. 2011 Olympic Wrestling UK 50p - mintage 1,129,500

5. 2011 Olympic Judo UK 50p - mintage 1,161,500

6. 2011 Olympic Triathlon UK 50p - mintage 1,163,500

7. 2018 Peter Rabbit UK 50p - mintage 1,400,000

8. 2018 Flopsy Bunny UK 50p - mintage 1,40