The bidding site, eBay, is full of bargains waiting to be had, but alongside many cheap deals there are some pricier items that encourage buyers to splash the cash.
For those hoping to pick up a commemorative coin, eBay has plenty of offer, but the selling price of these does not necessarily reflect how much the coin is worth and checking with a coin expert is recommended before making a purchase.
Recently, the seller “aeroncorvus” sold a Kew Garden 50p coin for much more than face value, as it went for £141.99.
Special editions of coins such as this can be worth more than face value, so why did this coin go for so much and was it actually a bargain?
eBay: ‘Rare’ 50p coin sells for £140 – why?
The coin on offer was a Kew Gardens 50p coin issued in 2009, which was done to commemorate the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
According the Change Checker, a website dedicated to coins, the coin has a mintage of 210,000.
The 50 pence piece rates 100 on the scarcity index which means it is classed as ‘very rare’, and having one of these could hold value.
In 2014 the coin was revealed as the most scarce 50p in circulation and they have been known to go for hundreds of pounds, which means this buyer may have nabbed a bargain.
The coin is described by “aeroncorvus” as a “genuine” and “rare” circulated version of the Kew Gardens 50p coin.
The seller went on to insist the coin is in “good condition” and the listing was accompanied by five photographs of the coin.
The coin on offer proved to be popular, as the selling price of £141.99 was the top offer of 30 bids.
On top of paying this, the buyer also has to pay £2.50 for postage by Royal Mail 1st class large letter.
According to the publication, Spend It, Save It, What should you do?, the 2009 coin is one of the rarest 50p coins around.
Despite this, they have given it a valuation of £100, which means the buyer has not spent too much over the mark for the coin.
Another ‘rare’ 50p coin was selling for £500, but why was it selling for so much?
The coin itself was released by the Royal Mint in 2016 as a celebration of the Olympic Games Rio 2016, which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It has a mintage of 6,400,000 and is said to be worth just £3, according to Spend it? Save it? What should you do?.
A ‘very rare’ Peter Rabbit coin went on sale for £3,780 just weeks after the new version was released.
Despite the huge asking price, the coin has a mintage of 9,600,000 and is ranked as one on the scarcity index, making it common.
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