50p coins 'go crazy' as collectors 'go crazy' to find 'rare' coins worth £150

Collectors were so eager to get their hands on the 50 pence pieces, they were willing to pay far more than face value

People were 'going crazy' to collect a 'rare' 50p coin which could be worth a small fortune, an expert said.

Brits could make around £200 if they found two of the UK's 'rarest' coins in their change.

Collectors were so eager to get their hands on the 50 pence pieces, they were willing to pay far more than face value, an expert has said.

However the Coin Collecting Wizard took to TikTok to say one was considerably harder to find than the other.

The first 50p was from the 1990s, and was known as the EEC dual date coin, the Mirror reports.

The design depicts conference table with 12 chairs and stars, representing the European Economic Community member states.

But the coin expert explained that it unusually displayed two dates - 1992 and 1993.

As just 109,000 of these coins were ever made by the Royal Mint, it was the "rarest" UK 50p to enter circulation.

Although these coins are no longer circulated, they could still crop up, and sell for around £40.

The Coin Collecting Wizard continued: "This is the larger old style 50p that are no longer in circulation now, but even though this is no longer circulated, it can still fetch around, £40 pounds in circulated condition.

"Then we have the Kew Gardens 50p.

"This coin is still in UK circulation and has a mintage of around 210,000.

"Due to it still being in our change, it has a price tag of around £150 in circulated condition.

"So always keep an eye out for the Kew Gardens 50p in your change, you never know when you might come across one."

The Kew Gardens coin, from 2009, features the famous Chinese Pagoda at Kew Gardens with a decorative leafy climber around the tower.

Collectors "go crazy" for the coin according to the Royal Mint's website.

It stated: "Over the years, the coin has been issued in a huge range of commemorative editions celebrating every aspect of British culture, from athletes to authors.

"The sheer variety has sparked a collecting craze but of all the 50p coins, the Kew Gardens 50p is arguably the most sought-after.

"Nothing gets people excited quite like this original 2009 design."

Recent eBay listings saw the EEC 50p coin being sold for £99.95 and £90.15. A Kew Gardens coin was currently listed for £164.95.