• [Dailystar Icon]
• Real Life
• Rare coin

Rare 50p coin could be 'worth fortune' if you have one in your wallet

Some special coin designs could fetch double their face value or, with a bit of luck, even rake in hundreds or potentially thousands. It's worth checking for this 50p coin in your collection

[Various English coins and banknotes]

It's worth checking your change (stock image)(Image: SEAN GLADWELL via Getty Images)

When was the last time you dusted off that old coin collection of yours? It might be high time for a bit of a sort-through, as you could well be sitting on a small fortune without even realising it. There are certain special edition coins out there that could bag you double their face value or, if you're particularly fortunate, even net you a tidy sum in the hundreds or thousands.

A popular TikTok account, @uk.coin.hunt, which boasts a whopping 473,300 followers, has been highlighting the 50p coins that are worth a pretty penny and which might just be gathering dust in your own collection. In a recent video that racked up over 700 likes, a voiceover explains: "These Shield 50ps are worth a lot of money! So let's talk about why they're worth that kind of money.

"First of all, you've got the NIFC the years that include 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2018 and 2021. And then you've got the rarest and lowest minted Shields in circulation which is 2017, but that's not really expensive."

The video goes on to clarify: "But NIFC means none of these went into circulation so they're pulled from BUNC sets, proof sets."

For the uninitiated, NIFC refers to coins that were never intended for general circulation, but are instead usually found in special collector's sets produced by The Royal Mint.

Take, for instance, the Royal Shield 50p coins from 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2018, and 2021 all of which were owned by the TikTok user in question. Crucially, certain editions hold significantly higher value due to their status as elusive proof versions.

The user exclaimed: "I've got 2011 Shields, the 2009 and 2010, so this one is a proof as you can see. And these are worth a lot of money as you can see, I've only ever found 2010 and 2018 in my change before so literally it looks like a normal 50p.

"People might spend it as they don't really look for dates and might not know about them. But these sell for 40-80 each, depending on the condition but obviously the brand new ones will just go for a tiny bit less because of the quality of them."

Discovering a rare coin can be exhilarating, but the first course of action should be to conduct extensive research to identify the coin's specifics and potential value. Following this, it's wise to consult with a trustworthy coin expert or dealer for a professional appraisal.

It's prudent to have the coin officially graded by a respected organisation to verify its condition and value. Finally, consider whether putting it up for auction is the best option or if it deserves a place in your personal collection.

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.