So it’s Tuesday morning, and here I am, standing behind this complete loon at Tesco. There he is counting his money like he’s looking for buried treasure. Properly holding up the queue, too. Then he’s telling us about a 50p coin that is worth loads. I assumed he was bonkers, but as it happens, the Diversity Built Britain 50p worth coin that might be worth talking about might actually be sitting in your wallet right now.
This Coin’s Got Everyone Talking
Someone over at the Royal Mint had an idea back in October 2020. Let’s make a coin about diversity, they decided. Brilliant idea, really. And the design’s got these geometric shapes all over it, which looks like modern art to me. My wife thinks it’s ugly, but then again, she thought our kitchen tiles were “contemporary” when they’re actually just brown.
There were roughly 10 million of those things made. Sounds like loads, doesn’t it? But that is where it gets weird; they are now harder to find than a good parking place in the centre of London.
What’s All the Fuss About?
My brother-in-law Colin’s been collecting coins forever. Boring hobby, I always thought. But he’s sitting pretty today, because he has three of these diversity coins hidden under a mattress somewhere. Won’t stop talking about them at family dinners.
If you ever come across one of these in your change purse, he says, you’re laughing. Not-holiday-lottery-winning laughing, but perhaps lovely-dinner-out laughing.
The plain ones, the ones that look like they’ve been through the wash a handful of times, are still worth 50p. Obviously. But if you happen to have one that looks like a dewy daisy? That’s where things get interesting.
Show Me the Money
Right, let’s talk numbers. A good one, reckons Colin, is worth £50 to £100. Mental, isn’t it? And for something that would have cost 50p to start with. I have spotted people on eBay trying to flog them for even more, though whether anyone is actually buying at those prices is anyone’s guess.
Special versions are sold by the Royal Mint themselves for £57.50. Then there’s some gold one for over a grand, but only 950 people were daft enough to buy that. Fair play to them, I suppose.
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Why Everyone’s Gone Coin Mad
But it’s not just a matter of money. My mum used to say Britain was at its best when everyone mucked in together. This coin actually shows that. The pattern is one of different communities coming together and that’s rather lovely, really.
Plus, the timing was perfect. Diversity and inclusion were the big talk around 2020. This coin fell amid all that chatter. It has turned into something of a symbol, hasn’t it?
The Great Coin Hunt
You should see what’s happening at coin fairs these days. Everyone’s asking about this particular 50p. It’s like Beatlemania, but for small change.
eBay’s absolutely crackers right now. Prices are everywhere, as some bloke’s asking £200 for one coin. Good luck with that, mate. But the fact that people are even bidding shows something is going on.
My teenage nephew Jack discovered TikTok videos about rare coins last month. Now he’s checking every 50p like he’s a forensic scientist. Found nothing yet, but at least he’s not on his PlayStation 24/7.
Should You Bother Looking?
Look, I’m not saying empty your piggy bank onto the kitchen table. But next time you get change, have a quick look. Can’t hurt, can it?
I found my first “valuable” coin at a sandwich shop in Wolverhampton. Wasn’t even looking for it. Just happened to notice something different about the change. Sometimes that’s how it works.
Don’t become one of those people who examine every coin under a magnifying glass at the checkout, though. The staff have enough problems without customers acting like detectives.
What Happens Next?
The Diversity Built Britain 50p coin is worth keeping an eye on because coins like this sometimes get more valuable over time. Especially ones with a proper message behind them.
This one ticks the right boxes, as it has a decent design, a meaningful story, and is not too common but not stupidly rare either. Whether it becomes properly valuable depends on whether people stay interested.
My advice? If you spot one that looks decent, stick it in a drawer somewhere. Worst case, you’ve still got 50p for the parking meter. Best case, you’ve got yourself a little bonus down the line.
The Real Value
Sometimes I think the actual worth isn’t about the money at all. This little coin represents something quite important: how Britain works best when everyone’s included. Different backgrounds, different stories, all part of the same picture.
That’s worth more than any price Colin quotes me at Sunday lunch. Though don’t tell him I said that, as he’ll never let me hear the end of it.
So next time you’re fumbling around for change, keep your eyes peeled. You never know what treasures are hiding in your coat pocket. And if you do find one, remember where you heard about it first.
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