Blue Peter 50p Value: The Rare 2009 Athletics 50p
The Blue Peter 50p is the 2009-dated Athletics 50p, designed by a schoolgirl for the London 2012 Olympics. It usually sells for £120 to £280, with a median of £162.71 across the sales we have recorded. The same design dated 2011 is in everyday change and is worth 50p, so the date is everything.
Where the Blue Peter 50p came from
In 2009 the Royal Mint and Blue Peter ran a competition for children to design a coin for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Florence Jackson, from Bristol, won with a drawing of a high jumper clearing the bar. Her design was picked from more than 17,000 entries and was the first of the 29 Olympic 50p reverses to be unveiled.
The Royal Mint struck a first batch dated 2009 and sold it on a Blue Peter branded card, the “Winner’s Edition”. Those coins were never paid out through banks. When the full Olympic 50p set went into circulation in 2011, the Athletics coin was struck again with a 2011 date, in far larger numbers.
Blue Peter 50p values
| Version | Mintage | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Blue Peter card (cupronickel) | 19,722 | £120–£280 (median £162.71, 14 sales) |
| 2011 Athletics 50p, circulation | 2,224,000 | Face value |
| 2011 Athletics 50p, silver | 7,640 | Too few recorded sales to quote |
Values are from realised sales we have recorded, not asking prices. Sealed cards in brilliant uncirculated condition fetch the most. A handful of cheap sales listed as “Blue Peter” turn out to be ordinary 2011 coins, so check the date in photos before you buy.
How to check if you have one
- Find the date. On the Athletics 50p the date is on the reverse, the side with the high jumper. 2009 is the Blue Peter coin. 2011 is the common one.
- Check the card. The 2009 coin was issued on a Blue Peter “Winner’s Edition” card. An intact, unopened card is worth more than a loose coin.
- Weigh it if in doubt. A genuine cupronickel 50p weighs 8.00 g. Our coin weight identifier helps rule out fakes.
The other Olympic 50p coins
The Athletics design is one of 29 sports on the 2011 Olympic 50p series. The lowest circulation mintages are Football (the offside rule), Wrestling and Judo, and the early Aquatics 50p with water lines across the swimmer’s face is the one collectors chase hardest. Our Olympic 50p guide lists every sport with its mintage, and rare 50p coins UK ranks the scarcest 50ps overall.
Athletics 50p coins on MyCoinage
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Blue Peter 50p worth?
How do I know if I have the rare Blue Peter 50p?
How many Blue Peter 50p coins were made?
Who designed the Blue Peter 50p?
Is the 2011 Athletics 50p rare?
Is a loose 2009 Blue Peter 50p still worth money?
Further reading
- Olympic 50p coin guide, all 29 sports with mintages.
- Rare 50p coins UK, the scarcest 50ps to look for in change.
- Where to sell rare coins UK, if you have one to sell.