Commemorative coins are of great interest to many, especially coin enthusiasts. Some may look to eBay, with the site listing hundreds of supposedly “rare” coins on a regular basis. One such piece is this 2016 Battle of Hastings 50p coin, which was recently uploaded on the site for £1,100. Described as “a piece of English history”, the piece was uploaded by eBay seller “traderman76” – who has been a member of the auction site since last November. The seller has started the bidding price at £1,100, however, eager buyers could purchase the coin immediately for £1,800. On top of the price, the new owner will have to pay a delivery fee of £1.50, so this coin won’t come cheap. The current owner also admitted the coin is circulated – something that is said to decrease the value of a coin.
So is it worth it?
The Battle of Hastings 50p coin is one of the most sought after in circulation, but it’s not technically rare.
It was created to remember the day when King Harold II was defeated by William the Conqueror, leading to the collapse of the English army.
The Battle of Hastings was fought on the 14th of October 1066 between the French Army, led by Duke William II, and the English Army led by King Harold.
King Harold was eventually defeated by William who then became known as William the Conqueror; he was crowned the first Norman King of Great Britain.
The coin, which commemorates the 1066 battle, was printed by the Royal Mint in 2016 when it first entered circulation.
There are around 6.7 million of them about. Nevertheless, Battle of Hastings 50p coins are known to sell for huge fees.
Phil Mussell and the production team at Coin News Magazine have issued a warning in their guide Spend it? Save it? What should you do?, which was released in association with the Royal Mint.
They advise that it’s up to the seller as to how much they put the item up for sale for.
And, astonishingly high price tags can make more affordable listings seem much more appealing.
But, more often than not, the coins aren’t even worth that, so the buyer still ends up paying more than it is worth.
Another 50p coin is selling for £5,000.
One eBay user posted a 2016 Peter Rabbit coin with the asking price of £5,000.
The coin is described as “highly rare” but this is not necessarily the case and bidders should be careful before making a purchase.
The seller, “welshsufi2011” uploaded two photos of the coin and explained the huge Buy It Now price.
They wrote: “This is a rare Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit 50p coin. Some wear as expected.
“Circulated in 2016 and are highly rare and collectible, hence starting price.”