Charles in your Change – where will you find a KCIII 50p and how much is it worth?

A new UK 50p has entered circulation featuring King Charles III’s portrait for the first time – but collectors are wondering, “how much is it worth?”

Obverse/reverse of King Charles III 50p.
The 2022 UK Charles III Obverse Portrait on a UK 50p

Special collector versions of the coins have already been issued and their limited edition presentations sold out within JUST HOURS!

4.9 million of these very 50ps will begin circulating from December.

You all know how many people will want this coin.

So, it could be tricky to get your hands on one.

How will you find the new KCIII 50p?

That’s why Change Checker is launching our Charles in your Change campaign – helping you collectors increase your chances of finding this 50p.

The Charles in your Change campaign image.
Showing Alex to the left, 'Change Checker' and 'Charles in your Change' logos in the centre, above the KCIII 50p obverse/reverse. Rachel is pictured to the far right.

We’re asking the UK public to register where in the country they found it.

This will help us to update our collector map showing the best hot spots to find the new coin.

Example of Change Checker's King Charles III coin map.
Example of Change Checker’s King Charles III coin map. For illustrative purposes only.

We’ll update this every week, so you can keep track of where, and how quickly these coins are moving around the country.

Find out more here >>

What will the King Charles III 50p be worth?

Any avid collectors knows the worth of a scarce coin.

A look at the Change Checker Scarcity Index will show you just how sought-after UK coins can be.

The coin at the top of the 50p Scarcity Index is the Kew Gardens 50p – just 210,000 entered circulation in 2009 and they still (over 13 years later) fetch around £100 on secondary market sites.

Sold prices of the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p.
Two separate listings sold for £150 and £175 on eBay on 7th November 2022.
The 2009 Kew Gardens 50p recently sold for £150 and £175 on eBay.

The value of the King Charles III 50p depends on what someone is prepared to pay in the future – that’s part of the joy of collecting.

But, you can be sure that if you find one in your change, you’ll own a small piece of history – the very first coin of King Charles III’s reign. And remember, it’ll never be worth less than its face value of 50p.

When will there be more coins?

Look out for a new £1 coin design next year.

It’ll be the first new £1 design since 2017 and excitingly, the very first £1 coin that could feature King Charles III’s portrait on the obverse. Find out more here >>

And of course, look out for those definitive coins1p – £2 coins. They will, inevitably, be redesigned in the future to have His Majesty’s portrait on them.

The first definitive coins of a new monarch’s reign mark a significant moment in numismatic history. Consequently, collectors will be racing to find a complete set of definitive coins.

Swap your coins with other collectors

Swapping your coins with other collectors will help you fill any gaps you may have in your coin collections.

If people are lucky enough to find more than one King Charles III 50p in their change, they could be prepared to swap one.

So, if you do struggle to find the 50p in your change you should head the Change Checker Community Group on Facebook. You can get tips, tricks, and even swap with other collectors – completely for free!

Or, you can list your coin collection online with the Change Checker Web App. It’s free to use and will take less than 60 seconds to sign-up!

Display your KCIII 50p in the First Effigy Collecting Pack

Get the King Charles III First Effigy Collecting Pack for JUST £15.99 (+p&p) here >>

As soon as you find the KCIII 50p in your change, you can slot it into your collecting pack, alongside the King Charles III £5 coin.

Vote for your all-time favourite circulating QEII 50p

As the Pride 50p marks the last UK coin to enter circulation with QEII’s portrait on the obverse, we asked you to vote for your top circulating QEII 50p!

King Charles III’s new coinage will begin circulating from December – starting with the brand new Queen Elizabeth II Memorial 50p. So, it’s the perfect time to look back at an astonishing 70 years of top QEII 50p issues.

From the UK’s rarest 50p (Kew Gardens), to the biggest range of sporting coins (Olympic 50ps), it’s understandably a hard task to pick a favourite.

Your top circulating QEII 50p!

The results are in! Your top circulating QEII 50p is…

Top 5 Circulating Queen Elizabeth II 50p coin. Ranked from 1st to 5th
Isaac Newton
WWF
Kew Gardens
D-Day
Platinum Jubilee
Top 5 Circulating Queen Elizabeth II 50p coin.

2017 Sir Isaac Newton 50p

Issued in 2017, this coin has a mintage of just 1,801,500, ranking it as less common on our Scarcity Index.

The reverse of this striking coin is based on elements of Proposition 11, in Book One of Newton’s Principia Mathematica.

P.S. did you know Newton is one of the most famous figures to ever hold the role of Master of the Mint?

Get your hands on this coin >>

2011 WWF 50p

Coming in very close second, is the WWF 50p.

The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) is the largest conservation organisation in the world.

They focus their work on saving endangered species and conserving the world’s most precious natural places.

In 2011, to mark their 50th anniversary, The Royal Mint issued this 50p coin.

It features 50 different icons to represent the variety of work they’re involved with.

2009 Kew Gardens 50p

In third spot, is the UK’s rarest 50p coin, the Kew Gardens.

Just 210,000 of these 50ps entered circulation, and over 13 years later, it’s still one of the most sought-after coins EVER.

It repeatedly takes top spot on our Scarcity Index, with collectors keen to add it to their collection.

However, it’s important to know the difference between a real, fake, or re-issued Kew Gardens.

Find out on our blog >>


Get the First King Charles III Effigy Collecting Pack

9.6 million King Charles 50ps are set to enter circulation. So, collectors stand a very good chance of getting their hands on this new release.

Once you’ve found this coin in your change you can add it to the pack, creating the perfect pair of KCIII first effigy coins!

Secure your Change Checker King Charles III First Effigy Collecting Pack here >>

So, get ready to start your hunt for the new 50p in your change!

The Snowman™ and The Snowdog come to life on a UK 50p!

In 2022, a UK 50p was issued, marking the 10th anniversary of the first premiere of ‘The Snowman™ and The Snowdog‘ film.

The  UK Snowman and The Snowdog 50p reverse showing both characters embracing, with snowfall and alpine trees behind.
2022 UK The Snowman™ and The Snowdog 50p.

The critically acclaimed animated sequel, ‘The Snowman™ and The Snowdog‘, suitably premiered on Channel 4 on Christmas Eve, 2012.

It was created with the late Raymond Briggs’ blessing and subsequently, in 2015, a book of the film was published by Puffin, bringing words to the story for the first time. 

And, for the first time ever The Snowdog joins The Snowman on a UK 50p!

Interestingly for collectors, The Snowman™ and The Snowdog 50p features a design by award-winning illustrator Robin Shaw.

As well as being an accredited designer, Shaw also acted as assistant director on the 2012 film!

2022 UK The Snowman™ and The Snowdog

Undeniably, Snowman™ coins are some of the most popular out there, with previous issues selling out remarkably fast.

The 2022 UK Snowman™ and The Snowdog 50p was issued the same year as Raymond Briggs’ passing, making it one of the most poignant issues in the series. It was also one of the last UK coins with Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait on the obverse.

2022 UK The Snowman™ and The Snowdog 50p obverse/reverse. Reverse to the right shows the Snowman and the Snowdog embracing with snowfall behind.
The obverse features Queen Elizabeth II's portrait.
2022 UK The Snowman and The Snowdog 50p obverse/reverse. Featuring Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait.

As the UK’s only official Christmas coin, it is the perfect festive gift, that’s certainly going to warm the hearts of every collector (and every dog lover) out there!


Last year when the 2021 Snowman™ 50p was issued, I gave my top tips for building your own snowman! With the temperatures dropping, we can certainly hope for a white Christmas!

Read my top tips here >>

UK snowman with christmas hat and scarf. Pictured with a shovel.
A snowman pictured with a shovel and christmas hat and scarf.