Watch coin collector reveal value of every Olympic 50p coin – and the rare error worth £1.5k
THE value of every Olympic 50p coin has been revealed by a collector ahead of this year’s games in Paris.
Some of them could pop up in your change and be worth more than face value.
In a TikTok video, 37-year-old coin collector Barry Graham from Sunderland who goes by the name of “Coin Collecting Wizard”, showcases the Olympic range and how each coin could be worth.
Coins depicting various sporting events were released into circulation in 2011 to celebrate the London 2012 games.
But some are worth more than others, Mr Graham revealed.
The coins depicting aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, boxing, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, handball, volleyball and weightlifting are all valued at £1.50.
Basketball, gymnastics, pentathlon, rowing, sailing, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo and wheelchair rugby coins are valued at £2.
Goalball, hockey and tennis coins are valued at £2.50.
Then the wrestling coin is valued at £8, and the triathlon coin at £9.
Football and judo coins are both valued at £12.
Typically, a coin is valuable if a low amount were put into circulation – known as its mintage figure.
Generally, the lower a coin’s mintage figure, the more you will be able to sell it for in an auction, on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
But this isn’t always the case and some coins have been known to sell for more than others despite more having been put into circulation.
When it comes to the 50p pieces, the football 50p coin is the rarest out of the Olympic set, according to The Royal Mint.
Just 1,125,500 of the coins, showing the popular sport, were minted.
But some coins which are considered rare due to a mistake in the manufacturing process, are commonly known as “error” coins, and there are only a handful in circulation.
The error in the design makes it more valuable to collectors.
Last month, an extremely rare 50p error “Lines Over The Face” Aquatics coin was sold for a staggering £1,500 at an auction run by RWB in Wiltshire.
Kimberly Day, coin expert from RWB, said: “Only a few hundred examples with this rare design variation are believed to have been released.
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“We’re delighted that this coin has raised such a sum, it’s a fair price for such a rare coin and we believe it’s value will only increase over time.”
The standard Aquatics 50p was issued by the Royal Mint, the official maker of British coins, in 2011.
It was part of a collection released to mark the 2012 London Olympics – with 29 designs representing different sports.
The standard piece features a swimmer’s face fully visible, but the error version sees lines appear across the swimmer’s face instead.
If you spot one of these in your change you could be quids in.
But remember the value of a coin is not set in stone, and is only ever worth what someone else is willing to pay.
A collector may be willing to pay more, for instance, if it completes their collection.
How to spot and sell rare coins
A coin is usually classed as rare if a limited amount were struck, or a manufacturing error occurred when they were being made.
A low mintage figure, which is set by The Royal Mint, relates to how many of a coin were made.
You can sell a rare coin on eBay, Facebook, or in an auction.
If you’re selling on Facebook, there are risks attached.
Sellers can be targeted by scammers on Facebook saying they want to buy a rare coin and asking for money up front for a courier to pick it up.
But it’s a ruse to get money out of you and the courier is never sent.
To avoid this happening, it’s always best to meet a Facebook seller in-person when buying or selling anything.
Ensure it’s a public meeting spot that’s in a well-lit area and if you can, avoid using payment links.
Most sellers prefer to deal with cash directly when meeting to ensure it’s legitimate.
The safest way to sell a rare coin is more than likely at auction. You can organise this with The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service.
It has a team of experts who can help you authenticate and value your coin.
You can get in touch via email and a member of the valuation team will get back to you.
You will be charged for the service though – the cost varies depending on the size of your collection.
You can also sell rare coins on eBay.
But take into account that if you manage to sell your item then eBay will charge you 10% of the money you made – this includes postage and packaging.
Always bear in mind when selling any rare coin, you will only get what the seller is willing to pay for it.
Beware of fake coins.
The Royal Mint has previously revealed how you can spot a fake coin and here are some possible signs to look out for.
- The date and design on the reverse do not match.
- The lettering on the edge of the coin doesn’t match the year.
- The milled edge is poorly defined.
- The lettering is uneven in depth, spacing or missing letters – or if the face designs are not as sharp or well-defined.
- The coin appears shiny and doesn’t show signs of ageing.
- The coin’s colour is different compared to genuine coins.
- Finally, check the alignment of the front and reverse designs.