Posts Tagged ‘50p’
It’s (Greenwich Mean)time for your latest Scarcity Index Update!
It’s time for the latest Scarcity Index update, your chance to discover the UK’s most sought after circulation 10p, 50p and £2 coins.
This information has been compiled using data from the Change Checker Swap Centre and presented in the easy-to-use indexes below, with arrows to signify how many places up or down a coin has moved since the last Scarcity Index update.
Where will the first King Charles III 50p rank?
Excitingly, the first circulating coin to feature King Charles III on the obverse – the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Memoriam 50p – entered the Scarcity Index for the first time in our previous update.
As this is only the second time a King Charles III 50p has featured in our Scarcity Index, it currently ranks as common. Despite entering circulation almost a year ago, the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Memoriam 50p will still be making its way into collections, and those who do find one in their change will no doubt be holding onto it.
Keep your eyes peeled for future Scarcity Index updates to see where the first King Charles III 50p will rank!
Haven’t found this coin in your change yet? Find out where in the UK you’re most likely to find one here >>
50p Scarcity Index
Whilst the latter half of the 50p index has remained fairly stable, there have been some huge movers in this latest update.
Climbing an impressive 14 places is the second coin in the Paddington 50p series – the 2019 Paddington at St Paul’s Cathedral 50p. The Paddington 50p series was incredibly popular with collectors, and inspired many younger people to start collecting. The Paddington at St Paul’s Cathedral 50p was even voted the second favourite coin in the series in a 2019 poll.
Another 50p that shot up the ranks is the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 50p, which moved up a massive 15 places. This 50p has previously been sitting near the bottom of the Scarcity Index, making it one of the most common 50ps in circulation, however it looks like it could now be becoming more sought after among collectors.
There has also been movement amongst some of the Olympic 50ps, with the Fencing and Gymnastics 50ps both moving up 10 places. This puts them near the top of the index, which is usually reserved for some of the rarest 50ps in circulation.
Some less fortunate coins are the Mrs Tiggy-Winkle 50p which has dropped by 15 places, and the Roger Bannister 50p which fell 14 places.
If you’re new to collecting and want to find out more about circulation coins, you can check out our fact files here >>
Otherwise, keep reading to find out which 10ps and £2 coins you should be looking out for.
10p Scarcity Index
There has been quite a shuffle up on the A-Z 10p Scarcity Index, with all but 3 coins moving.
The biggest change since the last update is the previously ‘less common’ C for Cricket 10p, which has dropped 12 places. Also moving down the ranks are the E for English Breakfast 10p and the O for Oak 10p, which fell by 9 and 10 places respectively.
It’s not all bad news though, as the G for Greenwich Meantime 10p climbed 10 places and the K for King Arthur 10p rose by 8 places.
*Note*
It’s worth remembering that this Index is only ranking the 10ps against each other, when really even the ones at the bottom of the list are still incredibly sought-after and even now (4 years on since they were last released) they are still the coins every collector seems to talk about!
And that’s no surprise, as a maximum of JUST 304,000 of each A-Z 10p design entered circulation across 2018 and 2019 – making them some of the rarest coins out there. So make sure you keep your eyes peeled for them in your change!
£2 Scarcity Index
We tend to see less movement on the £2 index due to the fact less coins have entered circulation in recent years – as you can see from the bottom of the latest £2 Index. However, it’s worth remembering just how rare and collectable some of these coins are, even after being in circulation for so many years.
As always, the Commonwealth Games N. Ireland £2 remains at the top of the list due to it’s incredibly low mintage of just 485,000.
The 2014 Trinity House £2 has recovered the 7 places it fell by in the last update, putting it back into the ‘less common’ category. However, the Darwin £2 and the Gunpowder Plot £2 have both gone down by 6 places. This could be due to people holding onto their Gunpowder Plot £2 during Firework Night, meaning less swaps were raised for it.
Despite less £2s entering circulation, it’s certainly still worth holding onto any coins you can find, before they’re snapped up!
How your Scarcity Index works
Generally collectors have relied on mintage figures to identify the scarcest coins. But they only tell part of the story.
Trying to find a good quality coin from 15 – 20 years ago, even for a higher mintage issue, is much more challenging than a more recent issue, as coins become damaged over time and are ultimately removed from circulation.
What’s more, some designs are more hoarded than others by people who might not normally collect coins – for example the First World War £2 Coin series.
Finally, it can be up to a couple of years before the Royal Mint eventually confirms the actual mintage for an issue.
That’s why we have combined the mintage information with two other key pieces of information:
- How many of each design are listed as “collected” by Change Checkers, indicating the relative ease of finding a particular coin
- The number of times a design has been requested as a swap over the previous 3 months, showing the current level of collector demand
Importantly, as new coins are released and popularity rises and falls across different designs, the Scarcity Index will be updated quarterly. This allows Change Checkers to track the relative performance of the UK’s circulation coins.
How much are my coins worth?
The Scarcity Index doesn’t necessarily equate to value, but it is certainly a good indicator. For example, the Kew Gardens 50p coin commands a premium of up to 200 times face value on eBay and is unsurprisingly top of the 50p Index.
You can use our 6 point guide to help you determine a more realistic value for your coins.
What about £1 Coins?
The £1 Scarcity Index has already been published for the Round £1 coins. Because they are no longer being issued, this is now set in stone.
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Upcoming King Charles III Coins! What we know so far…
Since the release of the New UK Coinage for King Charles III in October 2023, collectors have been eagerly awaiting new UK issues featuring His Majesty.
And so, I’m delighted to tell you everything we know so far about the King Charles III commemorative coins we have to look forward to, according to the UK’s latest Royal Proclamations.
Upcoming 50p Releases
80th Anniversary of VE Day
In 2025, we’ll celebrate 80 years since Victory in Europe Day – better known as VE Day – the day that Germany surrendered its armed forces to Allied nations. It’s only fitting that such a poignant historical milestone be marked with a UK coin, and it’s been announced that a VE Day 50p will be issued.
Image Credit: The Daily Mirror, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
According to the Royal Proclamation released on 4th April 2025, the 80th Anniversary of VE Day 50p will feature:
a depiction of a peace dove accompanied by the inscriptions “IN PEACE GOODWILL” and “VE DAY 8 MAY 1945”.
Zog the Dragon
Originally published as a children’s picture book in 2010, Zog tells the story of a clumsy young dragon striving to be the best student at dragon school. The story, which has become a family favourite, was written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo, and has even been adapted into a short TV film in 2018.
Image Credit: Christoph Rieger, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
It’s been announced that we’ll see a UK 50p coin celebrating 15 years of Zog, as far as we know, the coin will feature:
a depiction of the dragon Zog accompanied by the inscription ZOG.
90 Years of Monopoly
Monopoly – a beloved family game for many, an argument starter for others.
Image Credit: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
And to celebrate 90 years since the first British version of the game, a new UK 50p is being issued! It’ll feature:
a depiction of the character Mr. Monopoly surrounded by various components of Monopoly gameplay accompanied by the inscription “90 YEARS OF” and the Monopoly logo.
Harry Potter 50p
Following the extremely popular 4-coin Harry Potter 50p series and the subsequent Winged Keys, Black Lake and Flying Car 50ps, we can expect another magical 50ps issued to celebrate the Wizarding World.
What we know so far is that the next Harry Potter 50p will feature:
(b) a depiction of Harry Potter casting a spell accompanied by the inscription
“EXPECTO PATRONUM”
Image Credit: frostnova, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Upcoming £2 Releases
RRS Discovery
Following the popularity of the 2025 HMS Belfast £2, The Royal Mint are releasing a new £2 coin celebrating another iconic vessel.
Image Credit: Ed Marin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Here’s what we know from the latest Royal Proclamation:
‘for the reverse, a depiction of RRS Discovery with a whale tail and two penguins accompanied by the inscription “RRS DISCOVERY”. The coins shall have a plain or a milled edge and in incuse letters the inscription “· DESIGNED FOR ADVENTURE”.’
First Passenger Steam Journey
Both of the £2 coins that featured in the 2025 Annual Coin Set will be individually issued later in the year. The first commemorates the first passenger steam train journey on Locomotion No. 1.
The design captures the ground breaking moment in 1825, with a design featuring Locomotion Number 1 in action, packed with excited passengers and the inscription ‘The Journey that changed the world’, along with the years 1825-2025.
Royal Observatory Greenwich
The second £2 coin from the 2025 Annual Set celebrates 350 years of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
The reverse design features the Shepherd Gate Clock, the constellation Ursa Minor, the star Polaris and the meridian line in front of a globe. The coin also includes the edge inscription ‘PERFECTING THE ART OF NAVIGATION’, taken from the Observatory’s founding Royal Warrant.
Upcoming £5 Releases
Liberty London
Famous for its bold and floral print fabrics, Liberty (or Liberty’s) is a well known luxury department store in London with a close connection to art and culture. 2025 marks 150 years of the store, and a UK £5 coin will be issued to celebrate the anniversary.
Image Credit: DiscoA340, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
According to the latest Royal Proclamation, the coin will feature:
a depiction of Liberty London with a decorative paisley style motif accompanied by the inscriptions “LIBERTY” and “150 YEARS”.
Princess Anne 75th Birthday
The only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Princess Anne, celebrates her 75th birthday this year. As is tradition for royal birthdays and milestones, The Princess Royal’s birthday will be celebrated on a UK £5.
Image Credit: New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
As far as we know, the coin will feature:
a depiction of Princess Anne with Her Royal Highness’s Coat of Arms accompanied by the inscriptions “THE PRINCESS ROYAL” and “CELEBRATING 75 YEARS – DUTY AND DEVOTION”.
Queen Mother £5 – Not for individual release
The Queen Mother £5 was issued as part of the 2025 Annual Set to mark 125 since her birth. The reverse design of the coin features a depiction of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, the garter star and Queen Elizabeth’s cypher, surrounded by a Scottish Thistle and an English Rose.
Unlike the other coins in the 2025 Annual Set, this coin will not be individually issued and so the only way to get your hands on it is in the 2025 Annual Coin Set.
Never miss a future UK coin issue!
With such exciting releases on the horizon, you really won’t want to miss out on these incredible new coins. So why not take away the worry and guarantee yourself every new UK coin issue, without the hassle of placing orders on launch day?
Join the Change Checker UK CERTIFIED BU Subscription Service and be one of the first to receive new UK coins as soon as they are released! Plus, save £3 on new UK 50p issues with the special subscription price of £5.99 (+p&p).
The Snowman™ dances onto a 2023 UK 50p!
It just doesn’t feel like Christmas until the new UK The Snowman™ 50p is released!
You could even say it’s become a festive tradition that each year, the beloved Snowman™ features on a new UK 50p. And luckily for collectors, 2023 is no exception…
In fact, this year’s coin is sure to have collectors dancing for joy. That’s because The Snowman™ has danced his way onto a UK 50p in a magical scene set against a backdrop of the Northern Lights.
Available now in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality, you can add this frosty friend to your 50p collection here >>
The Story of The Snowman™ on Coins!
The Snowman™ first appeared on a UK 50p back in 2018 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Raymond Briggs’ much-loved festive tale. Since then, we’ve seen a Snowman™ 50p issued each year, making the 2023 Snowman™ 50p the 6th release in the series – and the first to feature King Charles III on the obverse.
Over the years, we’ve been treated to some of the most iconic scenes on our coins, taken from the original tale and even the 2012 film, The Snowman™ and The Snowdog™. The Snowman™ and the young boy, James have previously been seen sharing adventures and flying through the night sky, but 2022’s 50p was a little different, as the adorable Snowdog™ joined the frosty fellow for the very first time!
Unsurprisingly, the Snowman™ coins prove to be some of the most popular releases each year and now only the 2022 coin is still available at the mint.
But it’s not just UK collectors who are treated to coins featuring the Snowman™…
Over the years, The Snowman has featured on a number of different 50ps from The Isle of Man, some of which are incredibly sought after.
One such coin from 2003 featuring James and The Snowman™ sold for over £250 on the secondary market in 2019 – not a bad return on a 50p coin!
Now collectors have the chance to own the 2023 Snowman™ Coin, with James and his snowy friend dancing below the famous Northern Lights – a design sure to melt the heart of any collector.
The scene perfectly captures the magic of the heartwarming story, which is read by so many people every year. Just like the tale of The Snowman™, these new 50ps have also become a Christmas tradition, so if you weren’t starting to feel festive already, you should be now!
Own your 2023 UK The Snowman™ 50p
