eBay: ‘Rare’ Kew Gardens 50p sold for £125 after bidding frenzy – is it a bargain?
The bidding site eBay is a great place to find some cheap deals and many commemorative coins are listed online. Although they are popular with collectors, some of the items are put on sale for much more than face value. A Kew Gardens 50p coin has sold for £126.52 – was it worth it?
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Different 50p coins are often listed online and, although popular, they may not be as rare as suggested.
The seller, “kay.stef” posted two pictures of the Kew Gardens coin with a starting price of £40.
They wrote: “100 percent Genuine 2009 Kew Gardens Rare 50p, circulated stunning coin excellent condition.”
The coin was also described as “rare”, which could explain why it was listed higher than face value.
The seller explained they would offer free delivery of the item by first class post.
The 50 pence quickly caught the attention of buyers and a bidding war broke out with the winning bid at £126.52.
Although it may seem like a lot of money to pay for a coin, it could actually be a price which is close to the figure it’s been valued at by experts.
While many coins are falsely marketed as “rare”, the Kew Gardens 50p is one of the scarcest on the market.
Released in 2009, it features a drawing of a Chinese Pagoda, a monument in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.
In 2014, the coin caught attention when it was revealed as one of the rarest 50 pence pieces in circulation.
The Royal Mint website said: “The sheer variety has sparked a collecting craze but of all the 50p coins, Kew Gardens is arguably the most sought-after.
“Nothing gets people excited quite like this original 2009 design.
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“Just 210,000 were released into circulation and with almost all of them in private hands, the chances of coming across one in your change are slim.”
Due to its popularity, the coin was reissued last year as part of the 50th anniversary of 50p Celebrations.
According to the coin website, Change Checker, it has the circulating mintage of 210,000.
It is also ranked at 100 on the Scarcity Index, which means it is classed as “very scarce”.
While most commemorative coins are worth little more than face value, Kew Gardens coin can sell for much more.
Experts at the magazine, Spend It? Save It? What Should You Do? valued the coin at £100.
Although it is valuable, the buyer of the coin on eBay has still paid slightly more than the item is worth.
Potential buyers may be able to save on the 50 pence piece by shopping around.
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