Posts by Jess Coins
WIN ONE OF THREE ULTRA-RARE SALMON 50PS WITH AN EXCLUSIVE PRIVY MARK!
If you thought the Salmon 50p couldn’t get any rarer, think again.
This July, we’re giving three lucky Change Checkers the chance to win one of the most sought-after modern UK coins – a Salmon 50p featuring an exclusive privy mark.
Not one. Not two. But THREE incredible giveaways.
Why is the Salmon 50p so sought after?
Since its release as part of King Charles III’s definitive set, the Salmon 50p has become one of the most talked-about coins in circulation.
With a circulating mintage of just 200,000, it is currently the rarest circulating UK 50p, overtaking the Kew Gardens 50p which held the top spot for over 15 years. It also sits proudly at the top of the latest Change Checker Scarcity Index.
For collectors, that makes it a true modern rarity. While many people are still searching their change in the hope of finding one, very few have been lucky enough to do so.
But these coins are even rarer…
As rare as the standard Salmon 50p is, the coins we’re giving away are in a league of their own.
Each features a special privy mark celebrating 10 years of The Royal Mint Experience.
Unlike the standard circulating version, these coins were never intended for circulation and were only available to be struck during a special three-day period at The Royal Mint Experience.
Now that event has ended, these coins can never be struck again, making them a unique snapshot of a very special anniversary.
What is a privy mark?
A privy mark is a small additional design element added to a coin to commemorate a particular event, milestone or occasion.
They have been used on coins around the world for centuries and are often highly prized by collectors because they distinguish a coin from the standard version.
In this case, the privy mark transforms an already sought-after coin into an exclusive commemorative issue with a fascinating story behind it.
Already proving popular with collectors
The excitement surrounding these special Salmon 50ps has already been reflected on the secondary market.
Individual examples have sold for more than £50 on eBay, demonstrating just how desirable these coins have become among collectors.
When you combine the popularity of the Salmon 50p with an exclusive anniversary privy mark and a strictly limited striking period, it’s easy to see why collectors are eager to get their hands on one.
And now, in an exclusive July giveaway, three of them are up for grabs…
How to enter
Entering couldn’t be easier.
Simply visit:
changechecker.org/shop
and purchase any eligible Change Checker product.
Whether you choose:
- A Change Checker 50p
- A £5 commemorative coin
- A collecting album or folder
- Or any other product from the shop
your purchase will count as one entry into the giveaway.
For all Change Checker subscribers, subscription purchases automatically placed during the window of each giveaway will automatically be entered into the draw.
Every qualifying purchase receives an equal chance of winning.
Giveaway Dates
Giveaway 1
- Opens 12pm On Tuesday 14th July
- Closes: 9am Tuesday 21st July
- Winner drawn live: 12pm Tuesday 21st July
Giveaway 2
- Opens 12pm On Tuesday 21st July
- Closes: 9am Tuesday 28th July
- Winner drawn live: 12pm Tuesday 28th July
Giveaway 3
- Opens 12pm On Tuesday 28st July
- Closes: 9am Tuesday 4th August
- Winner drawn live: 12pm Tuesday 4th August
That’s three separate chances to win one of these incredible coins.
Don’t miss out…
The standard Salmon 50p has already captured the imagination of collectors across the UK.
Add an exclusive anniversary privy mark, a three-day striking window and the opportunity to own a coin that can never be recreated, and you’ve got one of the most exciting giveaway prizes we’ve ever offered.
Good luck to everyone entering – we can’t wait to reveal our winners!
Full Terms and Conditions:
To view the full terms and conditions including free entry details, please click here.
Vote for your 2025 Coin of the Year!
UPDATE: The vote has now closed, and we can officially reveal the results of the UK Coin of the Year 2025.
???? 1st Place – Monopoly 50p
Taking the top spot and crowned UK Coin of the Year 2025 is the Monopoly 50p. A hugely popular release, this playful and instantly recognisable design clearly struck a chord with collectors and voters alike.
Reverse designer: Bella Biggs
???? 2nd Place – Stories of the Second World War 50p
Coming in second place is the Stories of the Second World War 50p series. This thoughtful and powerful set of designs was widely praised for its meaningful storytelling and respectful commemoration of a defining moment in history.
Reverse designer: Timothy Noad
???? 3rd Place – The Snowman 50p
Rounding out the top three is The Snowman 50p, a long-standing favourite that continues to delight collectors of all ages. Its timeless illustration and festive charm once again proved popular with the Change Checker community.
Reverse designer: Robin Shaw
A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to vote. Your participation helps celebrate the coin designs that collectors value most and makes Coin of the Year possible each year.
Congratulations to all three designs – and thank you for helping us crown the UK Coin of the Year 2025.
We’re celebrating another incredible year of UK coin releases, and now it’s time to crown the UK Coin Design of the Year 2025!
This year has delivered an exceptional range of 50p, £2 and £5 coins. But only one can take the top spot – and we need your help to decide the ultimate winner.
Change Checkers have until 3pm on Thursday 11th December to cast their vote for their favourite Coin of the Year. Whether it’s a design that captured a moment in history, showcased remarkable artistry, or simply became your favourite addition to your collection, now’s your chance to make it count.
Vote for your favourite 2025 50p, £2 or £5 coin using the poll below:
This 50p Has Just Shot Up to FIRST Place – Your Updated Scarcity Index
Our brand-new Scarcity Index has just been released! It’s an exciting time for Change Checkers, as we’ve reviewed how the index is worked out, ensuring that wider data gives us the full picture for how sought-after your coins really are.
We’re starting fresh with this new index, but from the next update we’ll also include arrows to show you how many places up or down the coins have moved – helping you track your coins over time.
50p Scarcity Index
In response to the changing circulating and commemorative coin collector market, we have revised how we produce the CC Scarcity Index to highlight the top 20 most in-demand 50p and £2 coins.
It continues to draw off of key mintage information, which is augmented, with the help of AI, to incorporate market selling prices and general collector interest. The final index is reviewed by our Change Checker experts before release.
Since our last update, the 50p Scarcity Index has seen one of its most dramatic shake-ups yet – and it’s all thanks to a coin that many collectors have only just started to find in their change.
The 2023 Salmon 50p was always destined to make waves. With a tiny mintage of 200,000, it was confirmed as the rarest circulating 50p in 2024. But rarity is only about how many were made – scarcity shows how hard a coin is to find today. And now, collectors have spoken. The Salmon 50p has jumped straight to the top of the Scarcity Index, making it the scarcest 50p in circulation, even overtaking the famous 2009 Kew Gardens 50p.
The Kew Gardens 50p has still, however, been the benchmark for rarity ever since its release in 2009, with a tiny mintage of just 210,000. It’s every coin collectors dream of finding one in their change, so it’s no surprise it remains second on our Scarcity Index and continues to be one of the most hotly hunted UK 50ps ever.
Some of the 50ps sitting towards the lower end of the top 20 this time include the Wheelchair Rugby 50p, Pride 50p and Brexit 50p, which have all seen shifts since our last update.
Did you know?
The Pride 50p is one of the only UK coins designed by a collective of artists rather than a single designer – the Pride UK community itself shaped the final look. It’s a rare example of a coin where multiple voices came together to represent a shared history and movement!
It’s worth remembering that the 50ps appearing towards the bottom of this update’s index are still among the 20 most sought after in circulation – and finding any of them in your change is becoming increasingly tricky.
If you’re just getting started with coin collecting and want to learn more about the coins in your change, you can take a look at our fact files here >>
Otherwise, keep reading to see which £2 coins are worth keeping an eye out for.
£2 Scarcity Index
Although no new commemorative £2 coins have entered circulation since 2016, there are still plenty of rare and sought-after designs hiding in your change.
As expected, the 2002 Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games £2 remains in 1st place, followed closely by the England, Scotland, and Wales Commonwealth Games £2 coins. With their famously low mintages, it’s no surprise that all four always feature at the top of the Index.
The 2015 Britannia £2 takes 5th spot. With its tiny circulation mintage of just 650,000, it remains the lowest-minted definitive £2 ever released – and its rise this update only reinforces its status as one of the “key date” £2 coins to look out for.
When the coin was released, nobody realised it would be rare – collectors actually ignored it at first because they assumed the Royal Mint would mint millions. 2015 was the changeover year, when the Royal Mint switched from the long-standing “Technology” £2 design to the new Britannia reverse, so most people expected a huge run of coins to support the transition.
It wasn’t until the official mintage report came out a whole year later that everyone realised just how few had been made. By then, most people had already spent or lost theirs in change…
Moving further down the Index, the London 2012 Handover £2 and Olympic Centenary £2 continue to attract steady collector interest, while the Olympic Handover £2 remains a standout. A fun fact: the 2008 and 2012 Handover coins form a matched pair, marking the symbolic passing of the Olympic Games from Beijing to London and then London to Rio, making them especially popular with collectors who want the full Olympic story represented in their sets.
It’ll be interesting to see how these rankings evolve as collectors continue to hunt down the rarest designs, and we’re excited to revealwhere each circulating 50p and £2 lands in our next new and updated Scarcity Index!
How much are my coins worth?
The Scarcity Index doesn’t necessarily equate to value, but it is certainly a good indicator. You can use our 6 point guide to help you determine a more realistic value for your coins.
What about 10p Coins?
As no new commemorative 10ps have entered circulation since the A–Z of Great Britain 10ps in 2018 and 2019, we’re now able to set the 10p Scarcity Index in stone. With no further releases, the rankings won’t change from this point on.
You can view the final A-Z 10p Scarcity Index at the bottom of this blog.
What about £1 Coins?
The £1 Scarcity Index has already been published for the Round £1 coins. Because they are also no longer being issued, this is now set in stone.
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