50p Coins
I thought my Benjamin Britten 50p was worth £3,000…
One of the most regular questions we get at Change Checker is: “I have a Benjamin Britten 50p – how much is it worth?“.
There’s no doubt that the Benjamin Britten 50p was somewhat overlooked when it was first released and it is amongst the slightly more scarce coins in circulation.
2013 Benjamin Britten 50p
In his busy life, Britten compiled an impressive and diverse body of work. Since his death in 1976, Britten’s reputation as one of the greatest musicians of the age has continued to grow.
This Benjamin Britten 50p was issued to commemorate the centenary of his birth in 1913, and features celebratory words from Tennyson set against a double stave – referencing the piano on which Britten was a virtuoso.
But how much could your Benjamin Britten 50p be worth?
If you’re looking for a brilliant uncirculated version of this coin in good condition for your collection, you might expect to pay up to £10 – maybe even a little more. However, if you want a normal circulation quality Benjamin Britten 50p – I would hold on as it will eventually turn up in your change for 50p.
So why are they being sold on eBay for extortionate prices?
Sadly, the answer is that eBay is not always a fair indicator of value. Anyone can list anything for any amount. So those who come across a slightly unusual coin (like the Benjamin Britten 50p) may list it on eBay for an outrageous price, and once in a while, a naïve customer will pay the price.
It’s not just the Benjamin Britten 50p…many others including the 2006 Brunel £2, 2005 Gunpowder Plot £2 and the 2014 Trinity House £2 coins have also been listed for crazy prices.
Safe eBay buying tips
We would always suggest caution and user discretion when buying and selling on eBay. To get a more realistic idea of what your coin could potentially sell for, view the ‘sold listings’ on eBay to see the actual prices buyers have been willing to pay, although there is still no guarantee that these sales have all actually gone through.
So to help you get the most out of your money, we’ve created 5 eBay buying tips:
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Beatrix Potter revealed as the latest theme for 2016
2016 is already set to be an exciting year for Change Checkers with some key commemorative themes in the pipeline. But now the Royal Mint have pulled another rabbit out of their hat…
Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated more than 20 children’s books including ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit’
Peter Rabbit to be precise!
2016 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter, and a Royal Proclamation published on Friday has confirmed that one of Britain’s best-loved authors will be commemorated on two 50p coins next year.
National treasure
Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated more than 20 children’s books starring characters such as Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Benjamin Bunny. Her charming stories have captured the imagination of children for generations and earned her status as a national treasure.
Her inclusion on next year’s coins is sure to be a welcome surprise for Change Checkers, but what can we expect from the designs?
As well as declaring the specification, each Royal Proclamation also gives a description of the design of any new coin. The first, as stated in the London Gazette, will feature:
- “A silhouette of Beatrix Potter accompanied by an image of Peter Rabbit surrounded by a floral motif with the inscription “BEATRIX POTTER 1866 1943”.
- The second will use a more simplistic design: “A portrait of Peter Rabbit with the inscription “PETER RABBIT”
A first for UK coins
Never has a female literary figure been commemorated on a UK coin, so the two new Beatrix Potter 50ps are likely to be in high demand once they finally make it into circulation.
Are you happy to see Beatrix Potter commemorated on our coins next year? Let us know your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter
The Great 2015 Coin Search
It’s nearly December, and one question keeps cropping up here at Change Checker – where are all the 2015 commemorative coins?
The new designs for 2016 have been revealed and yet we have not seen a single one of this year’s commemorative coins in circulation.
What’s happened to them? Where have they gone? Will they ever get released – and as they only have a month to run, will there be some rare low mintages?
For us, and I’m sure other Change Checkers, this is an incredibly frustrating position. All of the anniversaries that are being commemorated have long past, and the opportunity for new collectors to get excited about the year’s coins has faded away.
All we want to do is find these coins!
In fact, we’d like to see The Royal Mint put the commemorative coins in circulation before the anniversary dates.
Do you agree? Have your say in our poll below…