18 November 2024
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The Royal Mint has declared the Atlantic Salmon 50p as the rarest coin in active circulation in the UK.
With just 200,000 released to UK banks and post offices at the end of last year, the new 50p coin for HM King Charles III depicting the Atlantic Salmon has knocked the highly collectable 2009 Kew Gardens 50p off the top spot for the first time.
A total of 210,000 2009 Kew Gardens coins were released into circulation 15 years ago. As the nation’s most collectable coin, the 50p has seen over 100 different designs appear on its reverse since its introduction. These include special 50p designs for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games and milestone royal occasions such as HM King Charles III’s coronation, making them highly sought after by coin collectors.
Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint said: ‘The releasing of mintage figures is an eagerly anticipated event among the coin collecting community – and this year is particularly exciting as we reveal the Atlantic Salmon as the rarest 50p in circulation. For the first time in 15 years, the highly collectable Kew Gardens 50p loses its top spot as the rarest in circulation with the Atlantic Salmon 50p splashing its way to number one.’ In third spot, with a mintage of 1,125,500 is the 2011 50p for Olympic football.
Related article: How many Olympic 50p coins are there, and how much are they worth?
For a full list of the top ten, see The Royal Mint’s website. The new definitive designs for the reign of King Charles III were first revealed in October 2023, with production of the coins beginning shortly afterwards. The Atlantic Salmon UK 50p coin entered circulation at the end of November 2023 have you been lucky enough to have found one?
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