Rare 50p coin sells for £155 after sparking bidding war online

A rare 50p coin has sold for a staggering £155 after sparking a fierce bidding war online.

Many coins are sought after by collectors and this particular one, which was minted in 2009, is one of the rarest in the UK.

The coin was launched more than 15 years ago, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the opening of Kew Gardens.

It features the iconic Chinese Pagoda from the gardens on one side and the late Queen's portrait on the reverse.

The Royal Mint is thought to have produced around 210,000 of these coins, which experts value at around £145 - meaning one lucky eBay seller sold theirs for above its current estimated worth.

The coin was listed as "2009 Genuine Kew Gardens 50p Coin In Very Good Circulated Condition *Rare Find*" on the site, with an initial starting price of just a penny.

But after a 34-way bidding war ensued, the price jumped up and up, before it finally went for £155.

The buyer also had to pay £2.70 for Royal Mail tracked 48 hour delivery, after making the winning bid on Sunday, January 5.

It comes after another rare 50p coin sold for £140 on eBay last month.

The coin, which was minted in 2011, featured a design to celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

It was one of around 936,000 coins produced by The Royal Mint and was described as being in "very good circulated condition".

After being listed on the site for just four days, 52 bids were made on the coin, before it eventually sold for £140.

The seller also offered free postage on the coin, which was dispatched within two working days.

Both coins are still in circulation and could be hiding in your change - so it's always worth checking.