Rare Gibraltar 50p Coin Sells for £4,500 in Stunning Mint Error Discovery
A rare mint error Gibraltar 50p has smashed records after selling for a whopping £4,500. The Britannia Coin Company, based in Royal Wootton Bassett, authenticated and flogged this extraordinary coin to a private collector. The Numismatic Guarantee Company has confirmed its authenticity.
‘Mule’ Coin Boasts Mismatched Dates and Designs
This unique coin, dated 1990, features the portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II on one side. The flip side, however, carries a Christmas-themed design with a choir boy and a puppy — normally seen on 1989-dated coins. This mismatch makes it a rare “mule” coin, where the two sides don’t match up, causing collectors’ heads to spin.
Expert: “One of the Rarest Modern Coins Known”
Coin specialist and YouTuber Christopher Collects, who works with The Britannia Coin Company, declared the find a massive deal.
“These non-UK 50ps are already rarer than the ones we see in general circulation,” he said. “As the only example of this manufacturing error found so far, this coin is among the rarest modern issues. Since the error was just uncovered, collectors haven’t been hunting for it yet — there could be more lurking in pockets.”
Check Your Spare Change – More Could Be Out There
The coin was originally handed in by a private seller to The Britannia Coin Company. Its sale price dwarfs that of the famous 2009 Kew Gardens 50p — which usually fetches around £250 despite its own rarity.
Initially, experts suspected the coin might be a fake. But after thorough verification, it’s now listed on the Numismatic Guarantee Company’s online register of certified coins.
Experts urge the public to check their spare change carefully, as more of these rare error coins might be waiting to be discovered.
