Hmm, forgive me for sounding a bit grumpy, but I'm not one for all these special edition non-circulated coins that they keep bringing out, it's just becoming a money-spinner, no pun intended. This one for example will set you back a tenner, or £65 for a silver proof version, or a ludicrous £980 for a gold proof. So another hobby aimed at people with more money than sense.
I'm not a coin collector, but this has just become a bit of fun finding some rare ones that have been circulated. A 50p piece should cost 50p not the best part of a grand.
I see the Brexit 50p that was supposed to be circulated anytime now with a mintage of 3m has been put on hold - for obvious reasons.
They’re probably melting them down to create a plaque to hang on the gates of the Houses of Parliament, with the words “Prats work here”engraved on it.
About three million Brexit coins will enter circulation around the UK from Friday, with a further seven million to be added later in the year.
That seems a lot, it's not going to be that rare then.
Finally got a Flopsy Bunny (I know) the other week so that's the Beatrix Potter and Paddingtons covered. Still struggling with the 2012 Olympic collection, haven't seen one for months.
This project has been hopeless of late, not least because of people using bloody cards instead of cash nowadays. I've added a couple of random Olympic 50p's to the collection but have spent the £2 coins on beer and Pringles.
However I was passed a new 50p today, it's a 70 Years of Her Maj one, AKA Platinum Jubilee, and quite rare with just 2.3m minted.
More common with 5m+ minted is the LGBTQ+ 50 years of Pride issue which I'm looking out for.
The collectable proof editions feature gaily coloured rainbows and are available for up to £104.99 on Ebay.
I’m spending the £2 coins that I saved because I rarely get them in my change nowadays so it’s not worth saving them. I’ll own up to the fact that I don’t bother scrutinising my 50ps either. I just spend them.
I just remembered I have two £2 coins my late mother had amongst her coin collection. One is for 2006 Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, and one 1986 Scottish Commonwealth Games. The 2006 one doesn't appear to have the minting error required to make it valuable, and the 1986 one appears to be worth about £9-£10.