A rare 50p coin has been listed on eBay for a whopping £150,000 and over 1,600 people have their eye on it – but a warning has been issued to these coin collectors.
The coin in question is the Benjamin Bunny coin. The Royal Mint introduced the Beatrix Potter 50p series in 2016 to celebrate 250 years since the birth of the renowned children’s author. The coin is one of four pieces that were released to celebrate the author’s life and works. This collection also included coins featuring Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten and Jeremy Fisher.
The Benjamin coin – which was launched to celebrate the author’s most loved children’s tale, “The Tale of Benjamin Bunny” – was released in 2019. Potter, who was also an illustrator and scientist, lived from 1866 to 1943. She wrote the iconic Benjamin Bunny in 1904.
The reverse features an original illustration of Benjamin by Beatrix Potter, with the obverse of the coin showing the late Queen Elizabeth II. Designed by Emma Noble, the coin features Benjamin dressed in his little brown jacket and over-sized Tam o’ Shanter. The words in capital letters – BENJAMIN BUNNY – are embossed around the edge of the coin’s reverse.
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The coin itself is not classed as super rare. Official figures from the Royal Mint’s website show that the 2017 Benjamin Bunny 50p coin had the highest mintage of the four coins released that year, with a mintage of 25million. This makes it one of the most common 50ps in the UK.
But what makes the Benjamin Bunny coin so special is that a batch of them was minted with an unusual rotation error. So when you flip the coin onto the Queen’s head, it won’t be straight, and this is what some collectors are after. The Royal Mint has never officially confirmed this minting error.
A common trend has been people listing Benjamin Bunny coins online for ridiculously high prices. A quick search can see other Benjamin Bunny coins listed for between £15,00 and £35,000 on the marketplace site. The coin is listed for £150,086.72 or best offer, with postage being priced at £8.35.
This appears to be the case with this coin. The coin’s seller said in its description that it was a “great addition to any collection.” The description of the item reads: “This Benjamin Bunny 50p coin is a great addition to any coin collection. Released in 2017, this coin features a beautiful design and is made from 0.925 fineness silver.
“The coin is uncertified and was manufactured in the United Kingdom. The coin is a perfect representation of the beloved character from Beatrix Potter’s tales. It is a must-have for any fan of British coins or Beatrix Potter.”
The seller also encouraged those viewing to buy the coin, saying: “Add this unique and beautiful coin to your collection today!”
As of writing, 1,600 eBay accounts have liked the listing, and nearly 40 are watching it. A warning was recently issued by the Coin Collector Wizar on Instagram, who urged their followers to be wary of these listings. They said: “People will slap ridiculous prices on common coins hoping someone will fall for it. But you should always filter by sold items to see what they’ve actually sold for. Spoiler alert most sell for just 50p.”
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If you find yourself in possession of a rare coin you may want to follow others and sell it. However, selling a coin on eBay is never guaranteed and a coin is only ever worth what someone is willing to pay for it. This means you could potentially make a lot of money from a coin but it is not guaranteed.
If you are a collector, then you should also keep in mind that fake coins can appear online too, so always be wary before handing over any cash. Websites and Facebook groups from change experts like Coin Hunter can help you work out if a coin is the real deal or not. You can also get coins verified by the Royal Mint.
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