Paddington Bear 50p Coin: How Much Is It Worth?
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In February 2023, a Glasgow seller sold a Paddington Bear 50p coin on eBay for £1,500. Coin collectors in the UK love to collect 50p coins, and the Paddington Bear 50p is a popular choice, but are they worth £1,500?
The Paddington Bear Story
Paddington Bear, created by Michael Bond, made his debut in 1958 in the book “A Bear Called Paddington.” His story is one of adventure, curiosity, and kindness.
Throughout the years, Paddington’s escapades have captivated generations of readers and viewers, spanning across books, television series, and movies. His love for marmalade sandwiches, iconic duffle coat, and distinctive red hat have become symbols of his character.
Paddington Bear 50p Coins
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Paddington Bear in 2018, The Royal Mint decided to pay homage to this beloved bear by releasing four 50p coins. These coins feature iconic Paddington Bear images, which have delighted collectors and fans. In 2018, they released Paddington at the Station and Paddington at the Palace. Then, in 2019, they released two more designs: Paddington at the Tower and Paddington at St. Paul’s. They also released all coins in Brilliant Uncirculated quality, along with a unique colour-printed silver proof design and a standard non-printed gold proof version.
Paddington at the Station 50p
The first coin depicts Paddington Bear tipping his hat on Platform 1 at Paddington Station. This iconic image captures the moment when Paddington first arrived in London, marking the beginning of his adventures in the city.
Paddington at the Palace 50p
Paddington outside Buckingham Palace is the second coin, holding onto his and waving a Union Jack. This image celebrates Paddington’s whimsical encounter with British royalty. A moment the nation won’t forget when Paddington met the Queen during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Paddington at the Tower 50p
The third coin portrays Paddington Bear at the historic Tower of London. With his trusty suitcase in tow, Paddington explores the iconic fortress, making memories that continue to captivate the imaginations of readers and viewers.
Paddington at St. Paul’s 50p
Finally, the fourth coin features Paddington Bear in front of the majestic St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of London’s most iconic landmarks. In his classic attire, Paddington embodies the spirit of adventure and discovery as he explores the city’s treasures.
Paddington Colour Silver Proof 50p
Here is an example of the Paddington Bear’s unique colour-printed silver-proof 50p coin in the Paddington Station variation.
Paddington Gold Proof 50p
An example of the Paddington Bear standard non-printed gold proof 50p coin in the St. Paul’s Cathedral variation.
Estimated Value
Paddington at the Station
Paddington at the Station 50p has a mintage of 5,001,000, so it is not one of the rarer 50p coins in circulation, but if you check listings on eBay, it still sells for an average of about £2 (as of October 2023).
Paddington at the Palace
This 50p coin has a similar mintage to the station coin, with 5,901,000 minted. It is, therefore, also worth around £2 on average, according to eBay listings (as of October 2023).
Paddington at the Tower
The Tower 50p has a much larger mintage, with 9,001,000 coins minted. This is quite a large circulation for a 50p coin and much larger than the first two coins. Despite this, Paddington at the Tower is considered the rarest of the Paddington Bear 50ps. On average, the value is around £2 – £3. However, there are some sellers on eBay trying their luck and listing this coin from £100 up to £1,200 (as of October 2023).
Paddington at St. Paul’s
The St. Paul’s 50p also has a mintage of 9,001,000 coins. This is quite a large circulation for a 50p coin and much larger than the first two coins. Like the Tower coin, the value is around £2 – £3. However, some sellers on eBay are also trying their luck with this one and listing it from £100 up to £5,000 (as of October 2023).
Brilliant Uncirculated, Gold and Colour Printed Silver Versions
The Brilliant Uncirculated versions are now £20 for a pair and are not worth much more if sold privately. Similarly, colour-printed silver proofs can be bought for around £50, depending on the vendor. Finally, the gold-proof Paddington Bear 50p is around £750 – £1750, depending on the vendor or seller. This coin is struck in solid 22-carat gold and makes an excellent addition to any coin collection!
Do Paddington Bear 50p Coins Make a Good Investment?
Paddington Bear 50p coins have a large circulation, so they are not limited in number and are not particularly valuable. This also makes them not very sought after by collectors. The popularity of this coin may change in the future, but currently, there are better coins to add to your collection.
Ultimately, other rarer 50p coins are available that would be a better investment and worthy of adding to your coin collection. However, fans of Paddington Bear and his adventures will still be keen to own one of these iconic coins.
Final Thoughts
The claims of selling Paddington Bear 50p coins for over £1,500 are not substantiated due to the large circulation of these coins. Despite this, Paddington Bear is an iconic British character, and these coins will always hold a strong attraction for any avid coin collector.
However, you will undoubtedly hold a more valuable coin if you have a Brilliant Uncirculated coin, a colour-printed silver or even a gold-proof Paddington Bear coin.
