2011 Olympic Aquatics 50p coin could be worth thousands if it has this 'one tiny detail'

This Olympics-themed coin is highly sought after by collectors if it features a specific design.

British coin collectors are being advised to check their pockets for a 50p coin from 2011, as it could be worth a small fortune if it has “one small detail”.

The coin in question is the 2011 Olympic aquatics 50p, which was created by the Royal Mint to celebrate the 2012 London Olympics.

The coin depicts a swimmer on the reverse, also known as the tail side, of the coin. However, a “one tiny detail” on certain editions of the coin makes it far more valuable than others.

In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, a content creator known as the Coin Collecting Wizard, explained how to spot the mistake.

He said: “Look out for this 50 pence as there is a rare version worth all this money. This is the coin to look for and the secret is all in the face.

“This is the 2011 Olympic Aquatics 50p - one of 29 coins released for the London games but there’s a super rare version that collectors are obsessed with.”

According to the expert, the important detail can be found over the swimmer’s face.

He said: “Look closely at the swimmer’s face. The common one shows the face normal, just like this example.

“The rare version has wavy water lines going over the swimmer’s face like this. It’s called the ‘lines over face error’ and it was quickly corrected, making those first few releases super limited.”

He also mentioned that one of these error coins was sold privately for over £2,000. “That’s a 50p coin turning into a holiday, a new laptop or half a car,” he said.

“Keep in mind, the regular version is only worth 50p. To hit the jackpot, you need to spot those swimming lines covering the swimmer’s face. One small detail can lead to a huge payout.”

It’s estimated that only around 600 of the “lines over face” coins were produced before the design was altered. However, according to RWB Auctions, it’s more accurate to say that the coin’s design was “tweaked” rather than containing an error.

Their website states: “These 2011-dated coins regularly sell for more than a thousand pounds.”

In 2024, RWB Auctions sold one of these coins for £1,500.