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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Sam Barker & Thomas George

The rare 50p coins that could make you thousands of pounds

The majority of 50p coins we come across are worth no more than face value - yet some rare examples have been fetching lucky Brits thousands of pounds.

A total of 71 different 50p coins are currently in circulation, while a further 29 have been released as commemorative objects and are not meant to be spent.

But with some selling for up to £11,000, it's worth checking your change, reports the Mirror.

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Rare designs on the reverse - or 'tails' - side of the coin can increase their resale value, as can limited numbers made or errors in manufacture.

In November, a rare Benjamin Bunny coin - said to have the Queen's head printed facing in the wrong direction - sold for £255 on eBay.

The rarest 50p in existence is one featuring the pagoda at London's Kew Gardens park.

After its release in 2009 to mark 250 years since Kew Gardens opened in 1759, the Royal Mint estimates around 210,000 were made.

It features the famous pagoda on the tails side with the Queen's face as normal on the other.

Here are three 50p coins that could make you more than their face value:

Paddington Bear Tower of London 50p, 2019

The 'Paddington at the Tower' 50p coin (PA)

There have been four 50ps made to celebrate children's favourite Paddington Bear.

Each one shows Paddington at a different London location - and the 'Paddington at the Tower' 50p is one of the most common, with 9 million made.

However that didn't stop one of the coins selling for £10,000 on eBay this month.

Other Paddington coins feature the bear at Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral and - of course - Paddington Station.

The rarest is the latter, with only 5 million made.

Brexit 50p, 2020

The 'Brexit 50p' was made to celebrate Britain leaving the European Union (HM TREASURY/AFP via Getty Images)

The Brexit 50p was first released to celebrate the UK leaving the European Union and one side is marked with the slogan 'Peace, Prosperity and Freedom with All Nations'.

The coin has sold for as much as £15,000 but you may not be able to get that much for yours.

Some eBay sellers are listing the Brexit 50ps for a more wallet-friendly price of £1.35, and they tend to sell for no more than £5 - but it could be one worth keeping hold of.

1918 Representation of the People Act 2018

The coin was made to celebrate the 1918 Representation of the People Act (PA)

An example of this 50p coin recently sold for £10,999 on auction website eBay.

The coin was used, and had several marks, but that did not detract from its final price tag.

The coin is not particularly rare, and around 9 million were made. Most of this sort of 50p sell for far less - no more than £2.

The 50p was minted to celebrate a law which gave the vote to women over the age of 30 - provided they owned property. It also gave the vote to all men aged over 21.

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