The Brexit 50p was released in 2020 to mark Britain’s departure from the EU – but some coins were wrongly minted with the original exit date of October 31 2019
The Brexit 50p was released in 2020 to mark Britain’s departure from the EU
A coin expert has shed light on a specific detail to look for on a rare 50p piece that could potentially fetch up to £40,000 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 – 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.
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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.
TikToker Coin Collecting Wizard informed his followers: “This is the Brexit 50p, released in 50p, to mark the UK leaving the EU.”
But did you know the Royal Mint accidentally printed a batch. “Some coins were originally struck in 2019 for the first Brexit deadline but when Brexit was delayed, those coins were supposed to be scrapped.”
A few slipped through with the original 2019 date and because they were never officially released, they’re insanely rare.
The defaced Brexit 50p with the European flags
We’re talking only a few known to exist. ” So far, only two of these coins have surfaced – so if you possess one, you could be sitting on a fortune. One fortunate seller managed to sell theirs for a staggering sum. A TikToker quipped: “Don’t spend it.
You might be holding a coin worth more than a car. ” about the special Brexit 50p coins that were minted for the first proposed Brexit date of 29 March 2019. These coins were later recycled following the revised deadline, which means surviving specimens could be worth tens of thousands. In another instance of rare 50p coins fetching high prices, one such coin recently sold for almost 500 times its face value, at an astonishing £245. This particular coin is famous for having lines across a swimmer’s face, making it a collector’s dream. The ‘Lines Over Face’ Aquatics 50p, designed by Jonathan Ollife, initially released in 2011, was modified to enhance the facial details. The Royal Mint, responsible for producing UK currency, has called this coin “extra special”.