A SPECIFIC “three Cs” design on a 50p coin made it worth hundreds of times more after an intense bidding war.
Just 200,000 of the rare pieces were ever made, giving it the lowest mintage of all circulating 50p coins.
The Atlantic Salmon 50p is now officially the rarest of its type in circulation after dethroning the Kew Gardens 50p.
The coin was struck to highlight the plight of the species of fish, whose population is in decline.
Its design features a salmon emerging from the water alongside a pattern of “three Cs.”
The head side of the coin features King Charles III.
The 50p piece started entering general circulation at the end of 2023 as part of a new series of coins marking the ascension of King Charles to the throne.
As the least common 50p in circulation, it has been in high demand from coin collectors.
One of the pieces recently sold for more than 280 times its value on eBay.
After 23 competitive bids for the coin, it eventually sold for £142.
The Royal Mint has revealed 200,000 of the pieces were sent to banks and post offices across the UK at the end of last year.
There were 210,000 Kew Gardens 50p coins put into circulation 15 years ago which had made it the rarest of the 50ps for over a decade.
But the latest mintage figures from The Royal Mint show its spot has now been taken by the Atlantic Salmon 50p.
Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coins at 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.”
Top 10 rarest 50p coins
HERE are the top 10 rarest 50p coins by mintage.
- 2023 Atlantic Salmon – 200,000
- 2009 Kew Gardens – 210,000
- 2011 Olympic Football – 1,125,000
- 2011 Olympic Wrestling UK – 1,129,500
- 2011 Olympic Judo – 1,161,500
- 2011 Olympic Triathlon – 1,163,500
- 2018 Peter Rabbit – 1,400,000
- 2018 Flopsy Bunny – 1,400,000
- 2011 Olympic Tennis – 1,454,000
- 2011 Olympic Goalball – 1,615,000