How to check if you have a 50p worth £65

The coins to look out for – and what they can shift for

If you’ve any of these seven coins knocking around, you could be in line for a payout.

'Uncirculated' coins – ie, those which have never actually been sent or exchanged – attract the highest prices, and the better the condition, the more they go for. All prices below are for circulated money though, as if you’ve saved a mint-condition one, you’re probably aware it might be worth something.

• London Olympics aquatic 50p. In 2012 the Royal Mint released a series of 29 Olympic-themed 50ps. Most don’t attract more than face value, though the ‘offside rule’ 50p could net you a fiver.
  
  However, collectors are in a frenzy over one coin, the original aquatic 50p, which shows water passing over a swimmer’s face. The Mint only printed 600 of these, before redesigning them to show the face clearly. There are no guarantees, of course, but we’ve seen these go for £900 on eBay – 1,800 times their monetary value.

• Peter Rabbit 50p. This year the vegetable-thieving bunny appeared on a 50p piece to mark 150 years since Beatrix Potter’s birth. If you’re lucky, you might get £5 for one.
  
  Other characters fetch similar prices, including Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Jemima Puddle-Duck. The Royal Mint still sells all these boxed for £10 each online, so you’re unlikely to beat that.

• Undated 20p. Spotted an undated 20p? Don’t chuck it, presuming it’s a fake. In 2008 the Mint struck a batch of 20p coins with no date in error. Known as mules, these typically fetch £70.

How to check how much your change is worth

The list above isn’t exhaustive – whenever something unusual turns up in your change, it’s worth giving it a quick value.

To get a rough idea, head to eBay* and search for sold items – enter a description, then click ‘sold listings’ on the grey left-hand bar. (You need to be logged in on eBay to do this.)

Do take very high ‘sold’ figures with a handful of salt. Not all ‘sold’ auctions result in a proper sale. In reality, eBay doesn’t force winning bidders to buy the goods – it just puts a black mark on their account if they don’t pay up.

Also look it up on coin collector website Change Checker, which has a full rundown on each coin.