A SPECIAL 50p coin was made in 2006 to commemorate the Victoria Cross medal, and it’s still in circulation to this day – but how rare is it?
Coin collectors and history buffs may be keen to get their hands on this coin, so below we explain how much you could get make from it.
The Victoria Cross 50p coin commemorates the award for bravery
There are over 70 designs of 50p coins and five of these are military-themed, with two honouring the Victoria Cross (VC) award.
The VC medal was introduced in 1856 by Queen Victoria to mark acts of bravery during the Crimean War.
It has since been used in World War One, World War Two, and in the present day to continue honouring courageous acts.
A total of 1,358 VCs have been granted, and anyone in any branch of the British armed forces is eligible to receive the award.
In 2006, two Victoria Cross 50ps were designed to mark the 150th anniversary of the medal’s inception.
One of them features a soldier carrying a comrade, while the other is a more up-close look at the award itself.
The reverse of this particular coin details two VC medals, one with the date January 29, 1856, designed by Claire Aldridge.
The medal itself pictures a lion, a crown and the inscription “FOR VALOUR” marked across the front.
The 2006 VC 50ps were entered into circulation, meaning there’s a good chance you’ve come across one in you’re own change over the years.
How rare is the Victoria Cross medal 50p coin?
There are 12,087,000 of these 50ps in circulation.
Change Checker has ranked the coin at the lowest possible score of one on its scarcity index scale, which can go all the way up to 100.
This means the VC 50p coin sits at the most common end of the spectrum and is quite likely to pop up in your change.
How much is the Victoria Cross medal 50p worth?
Although this piece is considered common, in some cases it can still fetch more than its face value.
We took a look on eBay to see how much the coin is selling for and found one listing that made £33.50.
Though it’s important to note that bidders can pull out of sales, so the item might not have sold for the price it says it has.
As a rule of thumb, a coin is only worth what someone is willing to bid for it, and this can change from one day to the next.
If you’re looking to sell a coin, you can speak to experts like Coin Hunter or The Royal Mint to see what your rare pieces are really worth – they’ll give you the most reliable advice.
If you’re looking to buy a coin instead, be sure to watch out for fakes.
The Sun also reveals how much the Decimal Day 50p coin is worth.
One rare error £2 coin that looks like an egg sold for £105 on eBay.
Some coins are worth more than others – we reveal the most rare and valuable ones in circulation, including the Kew Gardens 50p worth £900.
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