‘Rarest UK’ 50p coin most people spend without knowing is selling for £140

It’s regarded as one of the rarest coins in circulation – yet countless people remain oblivious to its worth and end up using it to buy a small treat.

The salmon 50p was revealed by The Royal Mint in October 2023 as part of a collection of eight fresh designs destined to be distributed throughout the country.

A month later, in November 2023, it began circulating and started appearing in people’s change – however many simply overlooked it and used it rather than keeping it aside.

A statement on Copes Coins reads: “Collectors predicted a low mintage for the 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p coin, and we can confirm it is even rarer than the beloved 2009 Kew Gardens 50p coin.

“The 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p coin has a mintage of 200,000, the lowest mintage of a circulating 50p coin and we expect many collectors will now turn their attention to securing this coin as part of their collections.”

Formally recognised as the 2023 Atlantic Salmon Definitive 50p Circulated Coin, the coin displays a salmon on the right facing into the coin with a decorated ’50 pence’ on the left.

The Atlantic salmon represents a priority conservation species as wild populations remain diminished due to river contamination, habitat destruction, river warming and overfishing.

The species can be discovered in exceptionally pristine rivers across Scotland and Wales alongside those in North and South West England.

On Cope Coins, it will cost you £139.99 to acquire this collectible coin in pristine condition.

However, coins bearing marks and scratches might fetch you less, with some selling on eBay for £125, £80 and even around £15, owing to their ‘well-circulated’ state.

Discussing the coin on TikTok back in 2024, Dans Dollars remarked: “It’s the rarest ever coin in the UK. We said it was going to be rare but we did not think it was going to be this rare.

“It’s got the Atlantic salmon on the back and the portrait of king Charles on the front. The question is, ‘How much will this coin reach?’ This coin will be selling for over £150.”

Responding to his post, one gutted user revealed: “I had that before but I spent it.”

Another user chimed in: “I might have to sell my ones, I’m so skint.”

A third user confessed: “I give all my King Charles coins away.”

One more user exclaimed: “Fabulous, I have a Kew and a Salmon.”

A final user observed: “Wow. Price of that. No wonder the post office women won’t give anyone bags of change.”