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A THIN loop on your 50p could mean it's worth 280 times its normal value.

The King Charles III 50p features a salmon on one half of the "tails" side, with interconnecting letter Cs on the other half to represent King Charles.

a pile of silver coins with the word canada on them
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The King Charles III 50p has skyrocketed to the top of the rarest 50ps list
a 50 pence coin with a fish on it
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The coin has a salmon on one half of the 'tails' side, with interconnecting letter Cs on the other
king charles 2023 atlantic salmon 50p coin circulated for 142.00
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One has recently sold on eBay for £142Credit: EBay

Behind the salmon, a thin loop is etched onto the coin to represent water.

Now, one of these coins has sold for a whopping £142 on eBay.

The sale was completed on October 12, after the listing attracted 12 bids.

It comes as the Sun exclusively revealed this week that the King Charles III 50p, also known as the Atlantic Salmon, had skyrocketed to top position in the list of the UK's rarest 50p coins still in circulation.

Read more Money News

A Changechecker spokesperson said: "The circulation 2023 Salmon 50p has knocked the legendary Kew Gardens 50p off the top spot, meaning Britain has a new rarest 50p for the first time in 15 years.

"It was announced on October 7, 2024 that just 200,000 2023 Salmon 50ps entered circulation in November 2023.

Due to its incredibly low mintage, just one in 335 people in the UK could have the chance of finding one in their change.

When the Kew Gardens 50p was first issued in 2009, collectors didn’t initially realise just how rare it would be, and many people who found one in their change parted with it and later kicked themselves.

The spokesperson added: "Now, 15 years later, the Kew Gardens coin regularly sells for between £150 to £250 on the secondary market, so it’s no surprise that they’re already selling on the secondary market for up to £200.

"For many, snagging a Salmon coin could be a second chance at coin-collecting glory.

How to spot a 50p worth £50 and mule 20p that sells for £30

"In terms of identifying rare coins, we would urge collectors to check mintage figures as well as keep up to date with our Scarcity Index which is updated quarterly."

As well as the £142, another Atlantic Salmon recently sold on eBay for a huge £164.

The coin entered general circulation at the end of 2023 as part of a new series of coins marking the ascension of King Charles to the throne.

It was struck with a salmon to highlight the fish's declining population.

Other rare 50ps have also been gaining traction online recently, including a Blue Peter 50p which sold for £216.

Top ten rarest 50p list

The updated top ten now includes:

  1. 2023 Atlantic Salmon – 200,000 made
  2. 2009 Kew Gardens – 210,000 minted
  3. 2011 Olympic Football – 1,125,000 minted
  4. 2011 Olympic Wrestling – 1,129,500 minted
  5. 2011 Olympic Judo – 1,161,500 minted
  6. 2011 Olympic Triathlon – 1,163,500 minted
  7. 2018 Peter Rabbit – 1,400,000 minted
  8. 2018 Flopsy Bunny – 1,400,000 minted
  9. 2011 Olympic Tennis – 1,454,000 minted
  10. 2011 Olympic Goalball – 1,615,000 minted

CHECK IF YOU HAVE A RARE COIN

Rare coins and valuable notes can be worth tens of thousands of times their face value.

But sometimes it's just tiny differences which make them so lucrative.

The most valuable coins tend to be ones with low mintage numbers or an error.

Those qualities typically make them valuable to collectors.

Your next step would be to check if your coin is still available to purchase in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality from an official Royal Mint distributor, according to Change Checker.

Certified Brilliant Uncirculated coins have been specially struck to a superior unblemished quality which set them apart from the coins you may find in pockets.

How do I safely store valuable coins?

HERE are some tricks to keep your valuable coins safe from toning:

  • Store your coins in individual containers
  • Put it in a clear, air tight holder that lets you see the coin from both sides
  • Avoid putting them in clear plastic sandwich bags because they can still rub against each other an may cause scratches or marks
  • Store your collection in a folder or album, although tarnishing may occur quicker than in an airtight container
  • Keep them out of a damp environment. You can use silica gel to help prevent damp
  • Wear clean, white gloves when handling the coins
  • Steer clear of using PVC materials as it traps moisture and releases acidic gases which can damage the collection. 

SELLING YOUR RARE COINS

There are many different factors to consider when trying to value a coin, including its condition and mintage, so it's important to do your homework first.

If you've got a coin that you would like to sell at auction, you can contact .

It has a team of experts who can help you to authenticate and value your coin.

You'll need to enquire via email, and a member of the valuation team will contact get back to you.

Take a picture of your coin and attach this to the email - you can find the details on The Royal Mint's website.

Be aware that you will be charged for this service though - the cost will vary depending on the size of your collection.

If you are looking to buy a coin online through a marketplace such as eBay, it's important to know exactly what you are purchasing.

This is because anyone can list a coin on eBay and charge whatever amount they wish.

You should also be wary of fakes online - and keep in mind that on eBay a buyer could pull out, which means the coin won't have sold for the price it says it has.

Read More on The Sun

Meanwhile, we have put together a guide on the rarest and most valuable coins.

We also tell you what you should do if you find a lucky penny in your pocket.

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