The question I’m always asked as a coin expert about undated Charles 50p – and how much it’s really worth
A COIN expert has revealed the question he receives “all the time” about an undated King Charles 50p.
Rare coins and bank notes can fetch hundreds and sometimes thousands of pounds.
In most cases, it’s because they have a low mintage figure – the amount struck and put into circulation.
But “error” coins, which have been struck incorrectly during the manufacturing process, also sell for hefty sums.
There’s usually only a handful of them in general circulation making them extremely rare.
But one supposed error coin, an undated King Charles 50p, has been debunked by an expert.
The King Charles III: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II piece was issued in 2022 and the first to feature Charles’ face.
Almost five million of the piece, with the reverse side showing the design of the 1953 coronation crown, were put into general circulation.
But one TikTok user has moved to put rumours down there is an error version of the coin which doesn’t feature a “2022” date.
Explaining the most common question he receives on his channel, user @UKCoinHunt said in a recent video: “How much are the undated King Charles 50ps worth?
“Let me tell you now. Absolutely nothing. Because it does actually have a date.
“I see this question all the time. A lot of people don’t realise this coin actually has a date on.”
He went on to explain how 15 TikTok users had asked him to verify the so-called undated coin, which features the 2022 date on the reverse side.
“This coin does in fact have a date,” he added. “They all do have dates.
“If they didn’t then they would be worth something, for sure.”
How to check if a coin is valuable
In most cases, a coin is valuable if a low amount were struck and 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 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.
Remember too, that a rare coin is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it on the day.
You can find out what a coin’s mintage figure is by going on The Royal Mint’s website.
Meanwhile, some coins are also considered rare when there was a mistake in the manufacturing process.
These are commonly known as “error” coins, and there’s usually just a few in circulation.
But bag one of these and you could earn up to £1,000.
How to sell a rare coin
When it comes to selling a rare coin, you have three main options – eBay, Facebook Marketplace or auction.
If you’re selling through Facebook, be wary of the risks.
Fraudsters have contacted sellers in the past saying they want to buy a rare coin and ask for money up front for a courier to collect it.
But the items are never picked up, leaving sellers out of pocket.
To stop this happening, it’s worth meeting the buyer in person and in a public meeting spot that’s well-lit.
If you’re selling through eBay, you’ll have to start by registering for an account and then listing a product.
Make sure you’ve got good pictures and mention the condition of the coin to avoid leaving buyers disappointed.
Bear in mind though, the safest way to sell a rare coin will more than likely be through auction.
You can organise doing this via The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service, which has a team of experts who can authenticate and value a coin.
Get in touch with them via email and a member of its valuation team will get back to you.
Do bear in mind you will be charged for the service though. How much depends on the size of your collection.
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