One of your 50p coins may be worth over 400 times its face value

Brits have been urged to check their change jars in case they have a 50p coin worth more than 400 times its value lurking at the bottom. 

This particular coin contains an unusual design on the tails side of the piece which was produced for the 2012 London Olympics - depicting a cartoon high-jumper drawn by a nine-year-old prior to the Games. 

Over 12 years on, the special piece has resurfaced, with one sold on eBay for a staggering £216. 

The individual who listed the coin received 26 bids on the coin before finalising the sale on September 14.

The image was drawn by schoolgirl Florence Jackson in 2009 for a competition organised by the long-running children's TV show Blue Peter.

It features a high jumper bending backwards over a pole, with a surprised look on its face.

Florence's drawing was the winning contender out of 17,000 entries, making her the youngest-ever person to design a coin.

Over 2.2million of the Blue Peter 50p coins were issued, with most most minted in 2011.

In Change Checker's most recent scarcity index in August 2024, the coin is ranked 26th in the table of 50p coins, with 25 scarcity index points.

This is an improvement on its ranking in 2022, which hints that the coin is steadily increasing in value. 

What makes the particular coin listed on eBay so special is that it was minted in 2009, the year the design won the Blue Peter competition. 

These coins were uncirculated and remained unreleased to the public for use in shops. meaning they had to be bought directly from the Royal Mint.

However, the coins do often end up in circulation and can be found in your spare change, with earlier coins garnering as much as £286 online.

The recent selling price of £216 is the highest in recent times, with a similar listing selling for £142 after receiving six bids last month.

The value of the coin varies according to its condition, as well as the condition and rarity of its packaging.