STORIES of everyday Brits hitting the jackpot with loose pocket change regularly sweep the nation.
The latest coin causing a stir online is A 2016 Battle of Hastings 50p, after an eye-watering eBay listing surfaced asking for a staggering £37,358.40.
The coin features King Harold being struck in the eye with an arrow Credit: Alamy
It was inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry Credit: PA
That sounds like a life-changing sum for a piece of metal.
But how much could the coin really be worth if you find one sitting at the bottom of your coat pocket or down the back of the sofa?
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How much is the Battle of Hastings 50p actually worth?
Despite the mind-boggling sums posted by hopeful sellers on auction sites, a standard Battle of Hastings 50p picked up in your everyday change is generally worth between £1.50 and £3.00.
If the coin is in pristine, “Brilliant Uncirculated” (BU) condition or remains sealed in its original Royal Mint presentation pack, its value creeps up slightly to around £5.00 to £10.00.
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While making up to twenty times face value is still a decent return on a 50p coin, it’s a far cry from tens of thousands of pounds.
Why is it selling for so much on eBay?
If you search for the coin on online marketplace eBay, you’ll see listings ranging from £1.50 to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The reason for these listings is that anyone can put an item on eBay for whatever asking price they like.
But listing a coin for £37,000 does not mean it is worth £37,000, nor does it mean anyone will actually pay that price.
Sellers frequently list ordinary coins at absurd figures in the hope of catching out an uninformed buyer or generating headline buzz.
To find out what a coin is truly worth, always filter your searches by “Sold Items” on auction sites to see completed transactions rather than active asking prices.
How rare is the Battle of Hastings 50p?
Released by The Royal Mint in 2016 to mark the 950th anniversary of the famous 1066 battle, the coin features King Harold being struck in the eye with an arrow, inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry.
While it’s an interesting piece commemorating a significant moment in British history, it’s far from rare.
A total of 6.7million coins were released into general circulation, meaning that out of all commemorative 50ps in circulation, it sits squarely in the middle of the pack for rarity.
To put that into perspective, the famous 2009 Kew Gardens 50p had a mintage of just 210,000, while the 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p saw only 200,000 enter circulation.
With 6.7 million Hastings coins minted, millions of Brits will have handled one over the past decade.
Which coins are actually worth big money?
If you want to spot a coin that could actually make you a tidy profit, keep an eye out for specific details.
Coins struck with obvious production flaws, such as missing details, or wrong metals, can fetch hundreds from specialist buyers.
Special precious-metal editions produced for collectors in presentation cases can be worth anywhere from £50 to £500+.
Scarcity drives value, meaning coins like the Kew Gardens (£150–£200) or Atlantic Salmon (£50–£100+) command top prices.
If you find a Battle of Hastings 50p in your change, it’s interesting enough to make it worth hanging on to – just don’t go planning your retirement off it just yet.
