Rare Royal Mint Blue Peter 50p coin sells for £200 on eBay

The Blue Peter 50p, featuring a high-jump athlete and designed by Blue Peter competition winner Florence Jackson to celebrate the London 2012 Olympics, fetched £200 on eBay after 21 bids.

Another example has previously sold for as much as £286.

Although around 20,000 were minted in 2009, the coins were never officially put into general circulation.

(Image: PA)

However, collectors believe many have since entered everyday use, meaning some could still be sitting unnoticed in loose change across the UK.

Originally sold for £1.09, the coin’s value has soared due to its rarity and Olympic connection.

Coin experts are advising members of the public to check old 50p pieces carefully, as rare editions like the Blue Peter coin could be worth far more than their face value.

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.

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