A collection of the rarest 50p coins currently in circulation in the UK has sold for almost £900.

The Royal Mint's Atlantic Salmon 50p coin became the rarest 50p in the UK when it was minted in 2023, surpassing the Kew Gardens 50p from 2009.

The coin was minted as part of eight new designs following His Majesty King Charles III's accession to the throne.

And now a collection of 20 of the coins has driven keen collectors into a frenzy, prompting a mini bidding war on online auction site eBay.

After attracting 35 bid, the coin collection sold for £874.29.

The Atlantic Salmon was chosen as one of eight designs representing flora and fauna from across all four UK nations.

Although wild populations of the Atlantic salmon are affected by factors such as river pollution, habitat loss, overfishing, and climate change, this wild fish can be found in very clean rivers in Scotland and Wales, as well as in North and South West England.

Five Incredibly Rare and Valuable British Coins

What makes a coin valuable?

The 50 pence piece has become the most valued and collected coin in the UK, with many collectable designs appearing on its heptagonal canvas.

Its 27.5mm diameter makes it the largest of any British coin, and allows space for decorative pictures. It has often been used to celebrate big events over the past 50 years of British history.

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The rarest coins tend to be of the greatest value, with the mintage (number of coins with each design made) being the fundamental attraction for collectors.

Along with the design, other aspects of the coin which increase value are the condition of the coin and whether it has an error in its design.

The way in which it is sold can also determine the coin’s value - while some coin collectors will bid vast amounts of money on eBay or at auction, others opt for more robust valuations by selling via a coin dealer.

Royal Mint top 10 most valuable 50p coins

Here is a list of the top 10 most valuable coins, when they were made and how many were minted:

  1. Atlantic Salmon (2023), 200,000
  2. Kew Gardens (2009), 210,000
  3. Olympic Wrestling (2011), 1,129,500
  4. Olympic Football (2011), 1,161,500
  5. Olympic Judo (2011), 1,161,500
  6. Olympic Triathlon (2011), 1,163,500
  7. Peter Rabbit (2018), 1,400,000
  8. Flopsy Bunny (2018), 1,400,000
  9. Olympic Tennis (2011), 1,454,000
  10. Olympic Goalball (2011), 1,615,500