A very special 50p coin has been sold on eBay for 300 times more than its value - and coin experts expect there to be thousands more in circulation.
The coin in question was released in 2009 to mark 250 years since the opening of London's famous Kew Gardens in 1759. The Royal Mint estimate around 210,000 were made, so it's well worth checking your purse! Finding a similar coin won't change your life, but it might take the pressure off your bills for a week or two.
The coin features the famous Chinese Pagoda at the Royal Botanic Garden on the tails side with the Queen's face as normal on the other. According to the Liverpool Echo, the seller closed on a surprising windfall last Tuesday.
Read more: Rare 5p coin sells on eBay for £161 - this is how you can spot one
The online auction saw the price ratchet up considerably - the coin had initially been listed for just 99p, but coin collectors, known as numismatists, placed nine bids in total and the sale eventually made the tidy £150 sum. The eBay listing described the item as a "Kew Gardens 50p genuine 2009 circulated Great Condition Fifty Pence RARE".
Change checking website Coin Hunter puts the average price range for the Kew Gardens 50p being sold between £150.89 and £161.50, meaning that this particular coin has sold for what might have been expected. However, there have also been examples of this coin selling for as much as £200 in the past.
If you find a Kew Gardens 50p in your change soon, the first thing you should do is check the date on it. This is because the Royal Mint reissued a batch of the coins in 2019 to celebrate 50 years of the 50p - and this version doesn’t tend to sell for as much.
But you could still be in for an exciting payday if you find one of these, as they can sell for between £70 and £80 on eBay.
Have you ever found a rare coin worth a fortune? Let us know in the comments below
