One of your 50p coins could be worth over 400 times its face value – here’s an easy way to check if you have one at home

Britons are being advised to check their change jars for possible 50p coins worth more than 400 times as much.

This particular coin features an unusual design on the reverse of the coin produced for the 2012 London Olympics. It features a cartoon of a high jumper drawn by a nine-year-old child before the Games.

More than 12 years later, the rare specimen has resurfaced, selling on eBay for a staggering £216.

The person who put the coin up for sale received 26 bids on the coin before closing the sale on September 14.

The image was drawn in 2009 by schoolgirl Florence Jackson for a competition on the children’s programme Blue Peter.

This particular coin features an unusual design on the reverse of the piece produced for the 2012 London Olympics

It depicts a high jumper leaning back over a pole with a surprised look on his face.

Florence’s drawing was the winning one from 17,000 entries, making her the youngest person ever to design a coin.

Over 2.2 million Blue Peter 50p coins have been issued, most of which were minted in 2011.

In Change Checker’s most recent scarcity index from August 2024, the coin was ranked 26th in the table of 50p coins, with 25 scarcity index points.

This is an improvement from its 2022 position, indicating that the coin is steadily increasing in value.

What makes this coin on eBay so special is that it was minted in 2009. The design won the Blue Peter competition that year.

These coins were not circulated and were not released to the public for use in shops, meaning they had to be purchased directly from the Royal Mint.

However, the coins often come into circulation and you can find them in your change, with previous coins fetching £286 online.

The recent sale price of £216 is the highest in recent memory. A similar property sold for £142 last month after receiving six bids.

The value of the coin varies depending on the condition of the coin, as well as the condition and rarity of the packaging.

Florence’s drawing was the winning entry from 17,000 entries for Blue Peter, making her the youngest person ever to design a coin