Rare 50p coin with October 31 2019 exit date could be worth £40k at auction

The Brexit 50p was launched in 2020 to commemorate the UK's dramatic departure from the EU. It carries the official Brexit date - January 31

A coin expert has revealed a specific detail to look out for on a rare 50p coin that could be worth up to £40,000 at auction.

The Brexit 50p was launched in 2020 to mark the UK’s dramatic departure from the EU. It bears the official Brexit date – January 31 – along with the inscription: “Peace prosperity and friendship with all nations.”

However, what many are unaware of is that millions of these coins were initially minted with a different date – October 31, 2019 – which was the original planned date for Brexit. When Brexit was postponed, these coins were meant to be melted down – but some found their way into circulation.

A total of 10,001,000 Brexit 50p coins bearing the correct date of 31st January 2020 were circulated, making them relatively common. But those carrying the earlier date are extremely rare and highly coveted by collectors.

On TikTok, Coin Collecting Wizard told his followers: “This is the Brexit 50p, released in 2020 to mark the UK leaving the EU. It has the official Brexit date, 31st January, and the slogan ‘Peace prosperity and friendship with all nations’.

“Now, this coin is no longer being made, but what some people might not know is that the Royal Mint made a batch of these coins bearing the first planned date for Brexit, which was 31st October 2019.

“When Brexit was delayed, they were supposed to melt down these coins, but a few slipped through with the 2019 date. And because these coins were never officially released, they are insanely rare.

“Only two of these coins are known to exist, so if you happen to have one of these coins, you could be looking at a small fortune.”

One lucky seller managed to sell theirs for a staggering sum. A TikToker stated: “Don't spend it. You might be holding a coin worth more than a car.”

The special Brexit 50p coins were minted for the first proposed date of March 29, 2019, and later recycled following the revised deadline, making surviving specimens highly valuable, potentially reaching five-figure sums.

Meanwhile, another rare 50p coin, featuring lines across a swimmer’s face, recently sold for almost 500 times its face value, going for an impressive £245.

The 'Lines Over Face' Aquatics 50p, designed by Jonathan Ollife and first released in 2011, was adjusted to enhance the facial details, as confirmed by the Royal Mint, the institution responsible for producing British currency.

In a statement to Express.co.uk, the Mint described the coin as "extra special." A spokesperson said: "The Aquatics 50p coin, designed by Jonathan Ollife and first released in 2011, has been slightly modified to improve the facial details.