Embedded Files
Nov 15th 2017 Special edition Sir Isaac Newton 50p coin sells for £120 as eBay bidder pays 240 times original value I received one in change from Lidl in Crook around the 1st week in Nov 2017
Dec 28th 2017 Check your pockets! These rare £2 coins could be worth a mint one day - with some ALREADY worth up to £73 on eBay
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5216223/These-rare-2-coins-worth-mint-one-day.html
Could the 2018 Sir Isaac Newton 50p coin become the rarest 50p EVER? PLUS 2017 Sir Isaac Newton 50p coin mintage of only 1,800,000
https://blog.changechecker.org/category/mintages/
THE MOST VALUABLE COINS in November 2017
THE MOST VALUABLE COINS in November 2017
1. Isambard Kingdom Brunel gold £2 coin, 2006, £700
2. London Olympics Aquatics 50p, 2012, £600
3. New 2p, 1983, £410
4. Kew Gardens 50p, 2009, £218
5. Undated 20p, 2008, £205
6. Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland £2, 2002, £59
7. Commonwealth Games Wales £2, 2002, £38
8. Edinburgh £1, 2011, £31
9. London £1, 2010, £30
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5082695/Special-edition-Sir-Isaac-Newton-50p-coin-sells-120.html#ixzz4yThh4IvB
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Grading
Grading
A range of grades are used to describe the condition of coins. Valuation of a coin is impossible without a sound knowledge of the grading of coins. For this there is no real substitute for experience. However, the following is a guide to the main UK grading scheme used for UK and other coins. Please note that this differs in many respects from US grading systems.
Poor: Inscriptions worn off, date illegible, only outline of design visible. Such coins are generally of no value to a collector.
Fair: Date and denomination legible, type recognisable. Very little detail visible. This is an example of a 'Fair' penny
Good (G): (sometimes Mediocre) Inscriptions and date considerably worn but legible.
Very Good (VG): Considerable wear over the whole coin, and high spots worn through. Coins in this or the previous grades are really only collectable if extremely rare. This picture is of the reverse of a 1905 penny which is Good to Very Good (i.e. awful!)
Fine (F): Worn over whole area, but only the highest spots are worn completely through. (US Grade about VF)
Very Fine (VF): Detail clear, but obvious evidence of limited circulation. High spots worn but detail remains. Traces of mint lustre may linger amongst the letters of the inscription. (US Grade about XF)
Extremely Fine (EF): Slight wear on high spots on close inspection, and all other detail clear and sharp. Much mint lustre may remain. (US Grade about AU)
Uncirculated (Unc): No wear, although it is possible for the design not to be fully struck up in the minting process. There may be bag abrasions. Older coins may be tarnished or toned.
Brilliant Uncirculated (BU): Usually implies full mint lustre, in other words no toning or tarnish.
FDC: (Fleur de Coin) Perfect mint state, with no abrasions or marks, and full lustre. Usually applied to proof coins only, as coins intended for circulation are in contact with others during production.
Proof: Not a condition, but the coin has been struck using specially prepared dies and polished blanks, and the minting process has been carried out usually twice with extra pressure to ensure the die is filled. Normally the fields are highly polished, with the design matte, however matte proofs where the whole coin is matte are known (for example all the 1902 GB proofs), and sometimes even the design is polished. A characteristic of proof coins is that they have very sharp edges because of the high pressures used to ensure that the metal flows into all details of the design.
Many coins fall in between grades, and so terms such as 'nearly VF', 'good VF', 'gem BU' are encountered. The numerical system popular in the USA is almost unused in the UK, and US readers should bear in mind that their grading system is more generous than that of the UK.
← Bank of England sticks with £5 note despite animal fat concerns
Posted on February 20, 2017 by Yasmin Britton
Can’t wait – click here to reveal the UK’s “scarcest” £1 coin
With the Great One Pound Coin Race underway, collectors across the UK are desperate to know which £1 coins are the hardest to find in their change.
Up to now, change collectors have relied upon mintage figures for their indication as to which coins in circulation are the rarest. But the story is not that simple.
650 million coins lost from circulation
650 million coins lost from circulation
The £1 coin has been in circulation since 1983. During that time a total of 2.2 billion £1 have been struck for circulation. But they are not all still in use.
There are 1.5 billion coins in circulation but probably fewer than 800,000 of the rarest design
The last available figures for coins in circulation, published by The Royal Mint for 2014, suggest that 1,553,000,000 £1 coins are in circulation.
In other words, 650 million of the coins struck no longer circulate, presumably withdrawn over the years as worn or damaged.
The majority of those 650 million coins are from the early issuing years, meaning that although some of those years may have high mintages, the actual number of coins available to collect from your change is far lower. In fact our research suggests that only a little more than half of the early years’ £1 coins are still in circulation. Far fewer if you’re trying to secure one in good collectable condition.
Scarcity breeds scarcity
Scarcity breeds scarcity
But even that is only part of the story. Of course, scarcity breads scarcity.
Even before the launch of the Great One Pound Coin Race, we noticed a rise in collector interest for £1 coins on the back of the introduction of the new 12-sided £1 coin. And the demand is always disproportionately high for the more difficult coins. The result is a continued ratcheting up in demand for the rarer coins.
The NEW Change Checker £1 Scarcity Index
The NEW Change Checker £1 Scarcity Index
That’s why Change Checker has launched the new £1 Scarcity Index. Rather just relying on mintage figures, we have combined them with the two critical points above – the actual numbers of coins in circulation and real collector demand, measured by Change Checker swap data – to create a unique Scarcity Index for the £1 Coin.
Scaled from 100 to 1, the scores represent the relative scarcity of each coin, with 100 being the most scarce.
So will I ever find the Edinburgh City £1 Coin in my change?
So will I ever find the Edinburgh City £1 Coin in my change?
With a scarcity rating of 100, the Edinburgh City £1 Coin is the rarest Round £1 in circulation
With the Edinburgh City £1 Coin topping the Scarcity Index, will you ever actually find one in your change?
Well certainly it won’t be easy – but it’s definitely possible. Our calculations suggest there are probably somewhere between 600,000 – 800,000 Edinburgh City coins still in circulation. In other words, it is of similar rarity to the recently issued 2015 First World War Navy £2 but far less scarce than the rarest current circulation coin – Kew Gardens 50p, which had a mintage of just 210,000.
On average, it means that you will have to examine roughly 3,000 mixed £1 coins to find the Edinburgh City £1 Coin. But with over 6,000 Change Collectors already listing the Edinburgh City £1 Coin in their collection, it is certainly an achievable goal.
Plus keep following Change Checker because we’ll be giving away any Edinburgh City £1 Coins we come across as competition prizes, all as part of the Great One Pound Coin Race.
It’s not too late to join the Great One Pound Coin Race.
Simply click here to enter today and you too could own a complete collection of £1 coins direct from your change before they’re gone for ever.
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UK coins worth cash Jan 2017
Silver 10p-sized 2p — value £1,400
These are created when a blank 10p coin accidentally finds its way into the 2p mint. Only two instances of this happening have been recorded in recent years, with the Royal Mint unable to confirm the likelihood of one being found again. Their rarity means they are worth a great deal to collectors. In May, a 2015 dated silver 2p coin was dropped into a Royal British Legion collection tin in Wiltshire and later sold at an auction for nearly £1,400. The coin had the dimensions of a regular 10p and was silver, but had the 2p Royal Shield of Arms stamped on it. In 2014, a silver 2p coin dated 1988 sold for more than £1,350.
New pence 2p — value £500 to £1,350 an error in 1983 means there are a small number of 2p coins from that year which say 'new pence' rather than 'two pence'
All 2p coins minted before 1982 should say 'new pence'. Those minted after this date should say 'two pence'. But an error in 1983 means there are a small number of 2p coins from that year which say 'new pence'. Royal Mint does not know how many exist but today they can fetch more than £500 — though only if it is dated 1983.
Undated royal 20p — value £100
In 2008, the Royal Mint launched a Royal Shield of Arms series of coins. A different detail from the shield was printed on the reverse (tails) of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p coins. Placed together, they reveal the complete shield. But a mistake means an unknown number of the 136 million 20p coins printed between 2008 and 2009 do not have the date stamped on them. Normally, a 20p coin will have the year it was minted stamped on either the heads or the tails side of the coin. But if you find a 20p with no date, they are heralded by experts as the 'Holy Grail of change collecting'. Buyers are willing to pay more than £100 for one
Peter Rabbit 50p — value £20 these coins were released at Easter this 2016
The Royal Mint won't reveal exactly how many it made, but it only put them at the tills of four attractions and National Trust properties. It is the first time a fictional character has been printed on a coin and they are fast disappearing from circulation because collectors are hoarding them. Some are selling online for £20, according to website Change Checker — 40 times the coins' face value.
The Royal Mint Jemima Puddle-Duck UK 50p BU Coin worth up to £12
The Royal Mint Mrs Tiggy-Winkle 2016 UK 50p BU Coin worth up to £12
The Royal Mint Squirrel Nutkin 2016 UK 50p BU Coin worth up to £12
The Euro 50p coin — value £50
The rarest 50p coin is the 1992-93 EC Single Market design. The coin illustrates a table with 12 stars representing the capital city of each member nation at the time. There were just 109,000 made and they can fetch around £50 online. Experts say their value is likely to increase further following Britain's decision to leave the EU. However, it won't turn up in your change without you realising as they are no longer used. They are one of the chunkier 50p coins replaced by the slimmer model in 1997.
Aquatics 50p The Aquatics 50p is a rare coin that is fetching prices on Ebay up to £1,000. It was produced for the 2012 London Olympic Games but most importantly, there are 2 versions of this coin.
The 50 pence coin from the Aquatic sports showing water passing over a swimmer's face is very rare. This version of the Aquatics 50p circulated number was only 600 before the design was changed to show a clearly visible face. On the other hand, the re-designed version with the swimmer's face clearly visible is quite common with a circulation number of 2,179,000 it IS NOT rare and typically sells for only a few pounds. We have also heard that there are non-genuine versions in circulation bit we have no direct evidence. There have been 2 recent sales on eBay of this coin fetching almost £1,000 after a bidding frenzy to secure this rarest of Olympic coins.
Kew Gardens 50p Rare Coin
One of the most rare 50p coins in UK circulation is a 50 pence piece issued to mark the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanical Gardens. Issued in 2009, only 210,000 of these commemorative 50p coins were minted and they now fetch up to £100 on Ebay depending upon condition. One in three people in the UK should have one of these rare 50p coins in their pocket and probably not even realise its worth,
Which are the rare 50p Olympic coins?
To celebrate the 2012 Olympic Games hosted in London, The Royal Mint issued 29 fifty pence collectable coins of different designs, with some produced in smaller numbers than others. A full set normally commands around £35 while some of the more desirable or rare designs such as football, wheelchair rugby, wrestling and tennis can command £3 or £4.
£1 coins values
1986 Flax £1 The Northern Ireland £1 coin, the third in the series of four, was introduced into circulation in 1986. The coin's design features the flax plant - the emblem of Northern Ireland.On eBay, mint condition, boxed coins are going for up to £17.
1988 Crowned Shield £1 this coin depicts one of the UK's heraldic emblems – the royal arms of the queen, surmounted by the crown of St Edward. There are 7.11 million in circulation and most sell for around £6 on eBay.
2008 Royal Arms £1 Despite the Royal Arms being a common one pound coin design, the 2008 version of the coin is actually the third rarest, with 3.9 million in circulation. Royal Arms coins from 2008 can fetch up to £15 on eBay.
2010 London £1 another coin released as part of the capital cities of the UK series was the London £1. The coin shows the portrait of the Queen and on the reverse side shows the four official badges of the capital cities of the UK, with a magnified image of the badge of London. Similar to the Edinburgh coin, London £1 coins in perfect condition can sell for up to £30, but most sell for around £5.
2010 Belfast £1 There are more than 6.2 million 2010 Belfast coins in circulation, meaning it is the eighth rarest £1 coin in the UK. The coin is part of the 'City Series' collection, and will earn sellers up to £30 on eBay.
The 2011 Edinburgh design is the only £1 coin with a mintage below one million - with 935,000 coins in circulation.
On eBay, Edinburgh £1 coins can sell for up to £30, though these are for coins in excellent condition. Most Edinburgh coins on the auction site are going for a far more modest price of £5.
2013 Daffodil £1 this daffodil pound coin was released in 2013 as a floral set alongside a rose pound coin. The daffodil is the national flower of Wales, while the leek is also a national emblem of Wales. The pair of coins marked the first release of a commemorative £1 since 2011. Mint condition coins will fetch up to £15 on eBay.
2013 Rose £1 The rose 2013 coin featured in the floral coin set alongside the daffodil, and coins in perfect condition can attract bids of up to £15 on eBay. Most coins, however, will fetch around £3. The design shows the rose and the oak to represent England. Both the daffodil and rose coins have a mintage of 5.27 million.
2014 Flax £1 the 2014 flax coin was released alongside the thistle coin, to complete the series of four coins that began in 2013 with coins for England and Wales. The £1 coins continue the tradition of honouring the home nations of Britain featuring familiar floral emblems. But, for the first time ever, they are paired together with other less well-known floral symbols. This design features the shamrock and flax for Northern Ireland. It will fetch up to £34 on eBay if the coin is in mint condition and boxed.
2014 Thistle £1 In 2014 two new £1 coins – one for Northern Ireland and one for Scotland – completed a series of four that began in 2013 with coins for England and Wales. This coin design features the thistle and bluebell for Scotland, and is the fourth rarest coin in the UK. Coins boxed and in excellent condition can fetch up to £10 on eBay.
When will the old pound coins stop being legal tender?
Both coins will be accepted for a period of six months once the new coin is introduced in March 2017. The current £1 has its legal tender status removed in September 2017, 34 years after it arrived.
Commonwealth £2 — value £20 The Northern Ireland 2002 Commonwealth Games £2 is considered the rarest £2 coin, and could be worth up to £25
The Northern Ireland 2002 Commonwealth Games £2 is considered the rarest £2 coin. There were just 485,500 minted. With a total of 417 million £2 coins in circulation, they are not easy to come by and typically sell online for around £25.
Guy Fawkes Rare £2 Coin
Other rare coins come from unfortunate minting errors. Another famous one is the rare £2 coin issued to commemorate Guy Fawkes. Instead of "Remember, Remember the Fifth of November" on the edge, some were minted saying "Pemember, Pemember the Fifth of November". Accordingly this makes it now one of the rarest coins in the UK and is known as a Rare £2 Error Coin. This Guy Fawkes £2 coin was released in 2005 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the gun powder plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament. These rare £2 coins have recently been selling for an average of £5 on eBay, with a high of £9 and a low of £3. Not much over face value but condition is a factor.Brilliant
Uncirculated £2 Two pound coins 1986-2016 worth up to £12
London Underground 150th Anniversary Commemorative £2 coins 2013 worth up to £20
New £5 notes the polymer note, which features a portrait of Winston Churchill, on 13th Sep 2016
New £5 banknote with the 'AA01' prefix is followed by a serial code in the low digits, it becomes even more attractive. Serial code is 'AA01 000007' – any notes that were produced just after very first are particularly sought-after. AA notes are currently listed on eBay for as much as £500.AA, AB or AC £5 note?
It could be worth hundreds of pounds. Unfortunately, once the banknote serial number leaves the vaunted 'AA01' domain its value among collector’s slumps dramatically, although there are examples of banknotes with the 'AA' prefix being sold for around £20 online.
A punter made £80,000 because it had AK47 in the code. Sales of new plastic five pound notes with AA, AB or AC are getting out of hand. Seller writes on the eBay listing: “AA01 The first serial numbers. “666 The devil’s number. There's a third '666' new fiver up for £20,000. The serial number reads ALI666, and the owner describes it as "extremely rare”. However, the notes with the AA serial number can actually fetch upwards of £20. Similarly, AK47 notes are being listed with a Buy It Now price between £20,000-£60,000 so if you're a chancer you're more than welcome to make some serious cash on it.
The Jane Austen notes. Four rare new £5 notes have gone into circulation, each engraved with tiny portraits of Jane Austen. The 0.2ins (5mm) images were engraved by 70-year-old artist Graham Short and appear on four notes with consecutive serial numbers AM32 885551, AM32 885552, AM32 885553 and AM32 885554
The best fivers are those from the first batch, with serial numbers that start with "AA01". The rest of the number should be low to guarantee a high price. Some £5 notes with a different AA prefix, for instance "AA02", have sold for as much as £20 on eBay. One collector sold a set of three sequentially numbered £5 notes with low serial numbers for £456
The James Bond notes eBay sellers cash in on the new polymer note with serial numbers 007. A note with "AK37 007533" sold for £5,000 on 10 December in Lancashire, and another sold for the same amount in Derby on 26 October with the number "AK37 007012". Both were dubbed "James Bond" notes. However, many other eBay users have tried their luck on the site and had no success.
50p Coin Values Price Guide Jan 2017
United Kingdom
One Pound Coins
This page is here to answer a common question we get, which is simply which designs of one pound coins were issued in which years. Acknowledgements to the Royal Mint website for much (but not all !) of the information appearing here.
Year
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2008
2009
2010
2010
2010
2011
2011
2011
2012
2013
2013
Image
Description and Designer
Royal Arms; Eric Sewell
Thistle and royal diadem; Leslie Durbin
Leek and royal diadem; Leslie Durbin
Flax and royal diadem; Leslie Durbin
Oak Tree and royal diadem; Leslie Durbin
Royal Shield; Derek Gorringe
Thistle and royal diadem; Leslie Durbin
Leek and royal diadem; Leslie Durbin
Flax and royal diadem; Leslie Durbin
Oak Tree and royal diadem; Leslie Durbin
Royal Arms; Eric Sewell
Lion Rampant; Norman Sillman
Dragon passant; Norman Sillman
Celtic Cross, pimpernel flower in centre surrounded by an ancient torc, representing Northern Ireland; Norman Sillman
Three English Lions passant guardant; Norman Sillman
Royal Arms; Eric Sewell
Lion Rampant; Norman Sillman
Dragon passant; Norman Sillman
Celtic Cross, pimpernel flower in centre surrounded by an ancient torc, representing Northern Ireland; Norman Sillman
Three English Lions passant guardant; Norman Sillman
Royal Arms; Eric Sewell
Forth Bridge; Edwina Ellis
Menai Bridge; Edwina Ellis
Egyptian Arch Railway Bridge; Edwina Ellis
Gateshead Millennium Bridge; Edwina Ellis
Royal Arms; Eric Sewell
Royal Arms (Shield); Matthew Dent
Royal Arms (Shield); Matthew Dent
Royal Arms (Shield); Matthew Dent
"City Series"; Belfast; Stuart Devlin
"City Series"; London; Stuart Devlin
Royal Arms (Shield); Matthew Dent
"City Series"; Edinburgh; Stuart Devlin
"City Series"; Cardiff; Stuart Devlin
Royal Arms (Shield); Matthew Dent
English floral emblem; Timothy Noad
Edge Inscription
Decus et Tutamen (= "An ornament and a safeguard"; from Virgil's Aeneid)
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit (= "No one provokes me with impunity"; the motto of the Order of the Thistle)
Pleidiol Wyf I'm Gwlad (= "True am I to my country"; from the Welsh National Anthem)
Decus et Tutamen
Decus et Tutamen
Decus et Tutamen
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Pleidiol Wyf I'm Gwlad
Decus et Tutamen
Decus et Tutamen
Decus et Tutamen
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Pleidiol Wyf I'm Gwlad
Decus et Tutamen
Decus et Tutamen
Decus et Tutamen
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Pleidiol Wyf I'm Gwlad
Decus et Tutamen
Decus et Tutamen
Decus et Tutamen
Incuse decorative feature symbolising bridges and pathways
Incuse decorative feature symbolising bridges and pathways
Incuse decorative feature symbolising bridges and pathways
Incuse decorative feature symbolising bridges and pathways
Decus et Tutamen
Decus et Tutamen
Decus et Tutamen
Decus et Tutamen
Pro Tanto quid Retribuamus
Domine Dirige Nos
Decus et Tutamen
Nisi Dominus Frustra
Y Ddraig Goch Ddyry Cychwyn
Decus et Tutamen
Decus et Tutamen
Approximate number issued (millions), and other comments
443m
146m
228m
10m
39m
7m
Although not of any particular value, this is the design least often seen.
70m
97m
38m
36m
114m
29m
34m
89m
Coins dated 1996 but with the "three lions" design are counterfeit.
57m
(Approx. 100,000, only in sets, not in general circulation.)
(Approx. 100,000, only in sets, not in general circulation.)
109m
64m
78m
61m
39m
99m
39m
26m
3.9m - slightly lower as normal (a new design replaced this in 2008)
29m
8m
38m
6m
2.6m
39m
1.6m
Collectors are paying hundreds for new £5 note - but which ones are worth the most?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/collectors-paying-hundreds-pounds-new-8903425
New five pound notes: Which serial numbers are valuable?
http://www.theweek.co.uk/78326/new-five-pound-notes-which-serial-numbers-are-valuable
Why that 2p in your purse could be worth £1,400: The valuable coins that can turn up in your change... and the red herrings to watch out for
Tips For Cleaning Coins: How To Clean The Old, Dirty Coins In Your Collection
https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/how_to_clean_coins/
How to Care for & Clean Your Coins
How to Care for & Clean Your Coins
This is a good place to repeat, “Don’t clean your coins.”
If you don’t learn anything else from this section, this rule should be it.
There are two types of cleaning for coins, often confused with each other.
Destructive cleaning uses abrasives or acids to clean (and alter) the coin surfaces. Non-destructive cleaning uses solvents that are harmless to the coin’s metal, whether that coin be silver, gold, or modern clad composition.
Destructive coin cleaning will reduce the collector value as much as 50 percent or even more. An expert can, in some cases, improve the value of an old coin by cleaning, but for the average collector the risk of damage is too great, as almost anything you do is going to cut the value. Unless you are an experienced specialist, the answer to “how do I clean my coins?” is, quite simply, “don’t clean them.” The typical response from people who don’t take advice kindly is “I’ll do as I please with my coins and you can go jump in the lake!” Have a nice swim.
Some collectors insist on cleaning their coins. One such collector had thousands of silver dollars. Every coin had been scrubbed with a harsh abrasive, every coin he bought got the same treatment, despite warnings from friends and dealers he did business with. The result, after he was done cleaning the silver coins, the only value left was the silver content, less than an ounce in each coin.
Another collector put his coins through a rock tumbler, hardly one of the proper coin cleaning materials. It ruined the collection’s value.
The metal cleaners you see offered for sale on TV and elsewhere all are acid-based cleaners. They remove some of the surface metal in the process of cleaning a coin. Avoid such coin cleaning products at all costs. Even a modern clad coin cleaned with one of these products will lose value. Ancient coins, or gold and silver coins will lose collector’s value, and precious metal content through use of such cleaners.
A weak soap (not detergent) solution in distilled water will remove dirt and grease from an encrusted coin without damaging it, even if the coin is one of those grimy specimens found at the beach.
City tap water has chlorine in it, which will discolor the coin. Use distilled water, and rinse with distilled water. Acetone is another commonly used solvent, but there is a fire hazard that you should be aware of when using it as a coin cleaning material. Fingernail polish remover contains acetone, but it has other chemicals that may cause damage to upper grade coins.
Also this warning: There is no safe method available to clean your upper grade uncirculated or proof coins or copper alloy coins. Always seek professional help and advice concerning these valuable coins.
After using solvents, it’s important to rinse the coins with distilled water, and then either allow them to air dry, or pat them dry. Never rub, even with the softest cloth.
Heavily encrusted coins can be soaked for several months in olive oil. The oil won’t damage the coin further, but it will eventually dissolve the crust. Generally speaking though, trying to restore badly corroded coins is a waste of time. Even if you successfully remove the corrosion, there is usually permanent damage underneath, leaving you with a near worthless coin. The same applies to the patina on ancient coins, which in some cases can actually contribute to a coin’s value.
Don’t buy coins that have been cleaned. The bargain prices indicate the coins will not appreciate as quickly as coins left uncleaned.
Anywhere else, the discoloration on silver coins is called tarnish, but coin collectors blithely refer to it as “toning.” It can range from black to many of the rainbow colors, and some collectors will pay a premium for nice looking toning. This comes close to being a fad. It is also subject to abuse from artificial toning.
An ultrasound cleaner will work, but with care. Only one coin at a time should be cleaned and the solution in the bowl should be changed frequently.
Another threat to your coins is PVC (polyvinyl chloride). It is a softener used in plastics, such as the 2-x-2 coin flips. When it deteriorates, from age or excessive heat, it creates a green slime that will eat into the surface of the coin, doing irreversible and permanent damage to the coin. There are Mylar flips available which do not have this problem, if you have questions, check with your dealer, they can give you important advice on the products they sell, and on how to prevent damage to your collection in general.
Royal Mint Decimal coins issued £2 - 20p
http://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/circulation-coin-mintage-figures/two-pounds-to-20p-issued
Coin Designs and Specifications
http://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/coin-design-and-specifications
Cupro Nickel Replacement Programme
Making the Coins in your Pocket
The History of the Trial of the Pyx
Starting with the finish – the art of minting
Trial of the Pyx in Medieval Times
The Piedfort Coin - A Rare Collector's Item
Information about the undated 20p coin
Discover the art and craft of coin design through the coins in circulation today. Learn what makes a coin legal tender and the process each design goes through before receiving Royal proclamation.
View the designs and specifications for each of the UK coins in current and previous years:
One Penny CoinTwo Pence Coin Five Pence Coin Ten Pence Coin Twenty Pence Coin Fifty Pence Coin One Pound Coin Two Pound Coin Five Pound Coin
The United Kingdom £1 Coin
The United Kingdom £1 Coin
For information on the newly announced redesign, visit our press release about the new £1 coin design here.
Background
The United Kingdom coinage is kept under constant review. By 1980 it had become apparent that with the general decline in purchasing power, the £1 unit of currency was more appropriate to a coin than a banknote. The note was in constant use on average lasting only nine months, whereas a coin can last as long as forty years or more and with the growth in the vending industry it was felt that a coin would be more useful.
After consultation with many groups including retailers and special interest groups, the Government announced on 31 July 1981 that a new £1 coin that was to be issued on 21 April 1983.
To make it easy to identify, the £1 coin is thicker than other coins while the 'yellow' colour allowed it to stand out from the cupro-nickel 'silver' coins already in circulation. The weight of the coin was decided largely on the grounds of cost and the need to allow for higher denomination coins in due course.
The reverse designs represent the United Kingdom and its four constituent parts - Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. The first series of designs took floral emblems as its theme, while the second series was heraldic in approach
The £1 coin is legal tender for any amount.
Coin Image
Year of Issue
1983
1993
1998
2003
2008
1984
1989
1985
1990
1986
1991
1987
1992
1988
1994
1999
1995
2000
1996
2001
1997
2002
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008-present
2010
2010
2011
2011
2013
2013
2014
2014
2015
2016
Design/Designer Information
Royal Arms representing the United Kingdom
Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN
Designed by:
Eric Sewell
Thistle and royal diadem representing Scotland.
Edge Inscription:
NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT
Designed by:
Leslie Durbin
Leek and royal diadem representing Wales.
Edge Inscription:
PLEIDIOL WYF I'M GWLAD
Designed by:
Leslie Durbin
Flax Plant and royal diadem representing Northern Ireland.
Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN
Designed by:
Leslie Durbin
Oak Tree and royal diadem representing England.
Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN
Designed by:
Leslie Durbin
Shield of the Royal Arms representing the United Kingdom.
Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN
Designed by:
Derek Gorringe
Lion Rampant representing Scotland.
Edge Inscription:
NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT
Designed by:
Norman Sillman
Dragon passant representing Wales designed by Norman Sillman
Edge Inscription:
PLEIDIOL WYF I'M GWLAD
Designed by:
Norman Sillman
A Celtic Cross with a Pimpernel Flower in the centre surrounded by an ancient Torc representing Northern Ireland.
Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN
Designed by:
Norman Sillman
Three Lions passant guardant representing England.
Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN
Designed by:
Norman Sillman
A representation of the Forth Railway Bridge inside a border of railway tracks.
Edge Detail:
Decorative pattern symbolising bridges and pathways
Designed by:
Edwina Ellis
A representation of the Menai Bridge inside a border of railings and stanchions.
Edge Detail:
Decorative pattern symbolising bridges and pathways
Designed by:
Edwina Ellis
A representation of the Egyptian Arch Railway Bridge inside a border of railway station canopy dags.
Edge Detail:
Decorative pattern symbolising bridges and pathways
Designed by:
Edwina Ellis
A representation of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge with a border of struts.
Edge Detail:
Decorative pattern symbolising bridges and pathways
Designed by:
Edwina Ellis
Shield of the Royal Arms representing the United Kingdom.
Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN
Designed by:
Matthew Dent
A depiction of the official badges of the capital cities of the United Kingdom, with the badge of Belfast being the principal focus.
Edge Inscription:
PRO TANTO QUID RETRIBUAMUS
Designed by:
Stuart Devlin
A depiction of the official badges of the capital cities of the United Kingdom, with the badge of London being the principal focus.
Edge Inscription:
DOMINE DIRIGE NOS
Designed by:
Stuart Devlin
A depiction of the official badges of the capital cities of the United Kingdom, with the badge of Cardiff being the principal focus.
Edge Inscription:
Y DDRAIG GOCH DDYRY CYCHWYN
Designed by:
Stuart Devlin
A depiction of the official badges of the capital cities of the United Kingdom, with the badge of Edinburgh being the principal focus.
Edge Inscription:
NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA
Designed by:
Stuart Devlin
A depiction of the floral emblem of England
Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN
Designed by:
Timothy Noad
A depiction of the floral emblem of Wales
Edge Inscription:
PLEIDIOL WYF I’M GWLAD
Designed by:
Timothy Noad
A depiction of the floral emblem of N Ireland
Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN
Designed by:
Timothy Noad
A depiction of the floral emblem of Scotland
Edge Inscription:
NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT
Designed by:
Timothy Noad
A depiction of The Royal Arms
Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN
Designed by:
Timothy Noad
The Last Round Pound
Designed by:
Gregory Cameron
THE 12-sided £1 coin has just entered circulation and members of the public are already frantically trying to get their hands on the new tender.
As the round pound coin set to become worthless by the end of 2017, Brits have started rifling through old handbags and looking down the backs of sofas in order to dig out coins that will soon be invalid.
EPA
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The new design for the £1 coin
The government estimates that around £433 million pound coins are stashed away in people’s piggy banks, car ashtrays and down the backs of sofas across the UK.
Below, we look at 10 of the rarest £1 coins in circulation that are currently selling on eBay for far more than their face value.
Some coins are currently selling for as much as £34 on the auction site.
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It’s worth noting that, due to the Royal Mint’s announcement of the revamped coin and the media interest, now is the time to flog any valuable coins as demand is high.
The new £1 coin soon to be released by The Royal Mint is most secure yet
state of the art
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The new £1 coin soon to be released by The Royal Mint is most secure yet
What are the rarest £1 coins?
What are the rarest £1 coins?
2011 Edinburgh £1
2011 Edinburgh £1
According to the blog ChangeChecker, the rarest one pound coin currently in circulation is the Edinburgh £1 which was part of a series of coins depicting the capital cities of the UK.
The Edinburgh design is the only £1 coin with a mintage below one million - with 935,000 coins in circulation.
On eBay, Edinburgh £1 coins can sell for up to £30, though these are for coins in excellent condition. Most Edinburgh coins on the auction site are going for a far more modest price of £5.
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On eBay, Edinburgh £1 coins can sell for up to £30
2010 London £1
2010 London £1
Another coin released as part of the capital cities of the UK series was the London £1.
The coin shows the portrait of the Queen and on the reverse side shows the four official badges of the capital cities of the UK, with a magnified image of the badge of London.
Similar to the Edinburgh coin, London £1 coins in perfect condition can sell for up to £30, but most sell for around £5.
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The coin features a magnified image of the badge of London
2008 Royal Arms £1
2008 Royal Arms £1
Despite the Royal Arms being a common one pound coin design, the 2008 version of the coin is actually the third rarest, with 3.9 million in circulation.
Royal Arms coins from 2008 can fetch up to £15 on eBay.
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Royal Arms coins from 2008 can fetch up to £15 on eBay
2014 Thistle £1
2014 Thistle £1
In 2014 two new £1 coins – one for Northern Ireland and one for Scotland – completed a series of four that began in 2013 with coins for England and Wales.
This coin design features the thistle and bluebell for Scotland, and is the fourth rarest coin in the UK.
Coins boxed and in excellent condition can fetch up to £10 on eBay.
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This coin design features the thistle and bluebell for Scotland
2013 Daffodil £1
2013 Daffodil £1
This daffodil pound coin was released in 2013 as a floral set alongside a rose pound coin. The daffodil is the national flower of Wales, while the leek is also a national emblem of Wales.
The pair of coins marked the first release of a commemorative £1 since 2011.
Mint condition coins will fetch up to £15 on eBay.
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The coin features a daffodil - the national flower of Wales
2013 Rose £1
2013 Rose £1
The rose 2013 coin featured in the floral coin set alongside the daffodil, and coins in perfect condition can attract bids of up to £15 on eBay. Most coins, however, will fetch around £3.
The design shows the rose and the oak to represent England.
Both the daffodil and rose coins have a mintage of 5.27 million.
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The coin shows the rose and the oak to represent England
2014 Flax £1
2014 Flax £1
The 2014 flax coin was released alongside the thistle coin, to complete the series of four coins that began in 2013 with coins for England and Wales.
The £1 coins continue the tradition of honouring the home nations of Britain featuring familiar floral emblems. But, for the first time ever, they are paired together with other less well-known floral symbols.
This design features the shamrock and flax for Northern Ireland.
It will fetch up to £34 on eBay if the coin is in mint condition and boxed.
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This design features the shamrock and flax for Northern Ireland
2010 Belfast £1
2010 Belfast £1
There are more than 6.2 million 2010 Belfast coins in circulation, meaning it is the eighth rarest £1 coin in the UK.
The coin is part of the 'City Series' collection, and will earn sellers up to £30 on eBay.
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The Belfast coin is the eighth rarest £1 coin in the UK
1988 Crowned Shield £1
1988 Crowned Shield £1
This coin depicts one of the UK's heraldic emblems – the royal arms of the queen, surmounted by the crown of St Edward.
There are 7.11 million in circulation and most sell for around £6 on eBay.
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The 1988 Crowned Shield coins sell for around £6 on ebay
1986 Flax £1
1986 Flax £1
The Northern Ireland £1 coin, the third in the series of four, was introduced into circulation in 1986. The coin's design features the flax plant - the emblem of Northern Ireland.
On eBay, mint condition, boxed coins are going for up to £17.
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The coin's design features the flax plant - the emblem of Northern Ireland
Scarcity and most valuable Pound Coins in order of value
1st 2011 Edinburgh City Scotland
2nd 2011 Cardiff City Wales
3rd 2010 London City
4th 2014 Thistle & Bluebell Scotland
5th 1988 Crowned Shield
6th 2013 Rose & Oak
7th 2014 Flax & Shamrock Northern Ireland
8th 2013 Daffodil & Leek Wales
9th 2010 Belfast City Northern Ireland
10th 1994 Lion Rampant Scotland
11th 2007 Gateshead Millennium Bridge
12th 1986 & 1991 Flax Northern Ireland
13th 2006 Egyptian Arch Railway Bridge Northern Ireland
14th 1987 & 1992 Oak Tree & Diadem
15th 2004 Forth Railway Bridge Scotland
16th 1995 & 2000 Dragon Passant Wales
17th 2005 Menai Bridge Wales
18th 1996 & 2001 Celtic Cross Northern Ireland
19th 1985 & 1990 Leek & Royal Diadem
Oct 2017 old shape £1 coins cease to be legal tender
Get ready for new 12-sided £1, firms are warned: Royal Mint tells retailers to adapt equipment to avoid chaos when coin is introduced in March 2017. Friday, 31st March 2017:
D-DAY FOR THE GREAT BRITISH POUND Jim Rickards
http://pro.strategicintelligence.co.uk/SNXDDAY1/PSINSA01/?gclid=CLKA3_yLutACFSIG0wod_KYCag&h=true
Do you have a pound coin worth £30 in YOUR pocket? Rarest examples are fetching high prices on eBay as the round coinage is phased out
2p coins from 1983 worth £100 because it says “new pence” on it
£2 coin – with one going for £300. The coins were released in 2007 to mark the 200th anniversary of the 1807 Abolition Of The Slave Trade. Some coins were printed with the writing, “Am I Not A Man And Brother” upside down on the edge. This is because when the Queen’s head is facing upwards the writing should run along the side so you can read it.Coins are given lettering on its edges to make them harder to forge.
New £5 banknote with the 'AA01' prefix is followed by a serial code in the low digits, it becomes even more attractive. Serial code is 'AA01 000007' – any notes that were produced just after very first are particularly sought-after. AA notes are currently listed on eBay for as much as £500.AA, AB or AC £5 note? It could be worth hundreds of pounds. Unfortunately, once the banknote serial number leaves the vaunted 'AA01' domain its value among collectors slumps dramatically, although there are examples of banknotes with the 'AA' prefix being sold for around £20 online. A lucky punter £80,000 because it had AK47 in the code. Sales of new plastic five pound notes with AA, AB or AC are getting out of hand. Seller writes on the eBay listing: “AA01 The first serial numbers. “666 The devil’s number. There's a third '666' new fiver up for £20,000. The serial number reads ALI666, and the owner describes it as "extremely rare”. However, the notes with the AA serial number can actually fetch upwards of £20. Similarly, AK47 notes are being listed with a Buy It Now price between £20,000-£60,000 so if you're a chancer you're more than welcome to make some serious cash on it.
Have YOU got a fiver worth £20,000? Just FOUR Jane Austen engraved notes in circulation
All four of the Jane Austen notes start with the same seven digits, reading 'AM32 885'.551
'AM32 885'.552 'AM32 885'.553 'AM32 885'.554
Short engraved a five millimetre portrait of Jane Austen on the translucent area next to Big Ben on each of the notes. The minuscule engravings are only visible in certain light, meaning they are easy to miss.
One buyer parted with £5,000 to buy a fiver with the serial AK37 007 on it
you got a 007 £5 note? It could be worth £5,000: Die-hard James Bond fans are snapping up fivers with spy-themed serial numbers
Coin Grading
Coin Grading
Coin grading is a means to determine the market value of a rare coin based on how well the coin has been preserved since it was struck at the mint. It may not have been perfect when originally struck, the coin metal itself may not have been well preserved, and most importantly, it may show signs of wear and tear suffered since it was minted by being in currency circulation. If you want mint coins then buy directly from The Royal Mint upon issue or look for sales listings that state "uncirculated condition".
Grading a coin is not an exact science as there is no official grading mean for British collectable coins. There are companies and experienced coin collectors that will grade coins for you for a fee but ideally you should learn through your experience what coins should look like and how to rate them. At the end of the day no 2 coins will be exactly the same unless new so it is a matter of personal opinion if a coin is in good enough condition to add to your collection.
You may also come across some coin collector terms in sales listings, anything less than Fine Condition is probably not worth collecting;
Fine (F) means the coin shows quite a bit of wear (still acceptable on an older coin). The main features, design, date should still be clearly readable.
Very Fine (VF) means has been in light circulation. Some signs of wear
Extremely Fine (EF) means it has been in circulation but the wear signs only show upon close up inspection
Uncirculated (U) means "as new" condition with no circulation degradation but may have discoloured due to poor storage conditions.
Bullion Coins Bullion coins have a similar standard of finish to circulating coins.
Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) means "as new" condition with no circulation degradation and still shiny like a brand new coin from the mint. Also referred to as ‘BU’, ‘B.U.’, and ‘B.UNC’.
Proof Coin (Proof) Proof Coins means it has been minted to the highest standards of coin craftsmanship using special hand-made dies. This means that there will be no imperfections. The Royal Mint for example creates Proof Coins by hand using a manual process where each coin is slowly struck 6 times to ensure absolute quality of production. Proof coins will probably be in a protective case or presentation box as these coins can cost thousands of pounds and are aimed at the serious coin collector or coin investor.
The coin striking process determines the results of each coin. UK mint coin strike rates:
Bullion - 250 gold bullion coins struck per hour, 3,000 silver bullion coins struck per hour
Brilliant Uncirculated - 100 coins struck per hour, machine fed, struck twice.
Proof - 50 coins struck per hour. Placed in coin press by hand, struck 6 times at low pressure. Manual inspection each time for flaws.
Buying Rare Coins on Ebay
Buying Rare Coins on Ebay
We feature Ebay UK sales listings but encourage you to take care when buying rare coins from any online source.
A few basic safety measures for buying online coins include;
Clear Photographs - if the coin pictures are fuzzy or badly lit, walk away. Don't accept stock photos or coin face outline drawings from The Royal Mint website. Ask to see images of the actual coin for sale.
Heads or Tails? - check both sides of coin in the pictures!
Top Sellers - buy from top sellers with good Ebay seller rating scores
Rating Comments - read recent ratings from previous buyers, some transaction will always go wrong but if there are many complainers walk away
Ebay Shops - people can see on eBay as private individuals or as businesses with their own Ebay shop. A shop is more likely to have a professional approach to sales.
Returns Policy - check the sellers returns policy. Handle the coins with white cotton gloves when you get them to make sure you are not doing any damage handling the coins before you properly inspect them
Coloured Coins - there is a trend to colour in coins, not done in mint production. This may completely devalue the coin and try to hide some flaw in its minting or other damage
Do your homework - spend some time to watch multiple auction listings for the same coin to see current selling prices and buyer demand. This will also help you to spot coins that are poor quality or even fake as you will become familiar with them even if they are a rare coin.
Postage Costs - some eBay sellers charge much more than others for sending you the coin so always compare prices using the coin price + shipping cost
Ask Questions - don't be afraid to ask the seller questions if you are unsure of anything
UK Decimalisation
UK Decimalisation
The UK went decimal with its money on Monday 15 February 1971, known as "Decimal Day".
Before 1971, UK money was known as "pounds, shillings and pence";
12 Pennies to the Shilling
20 Shillings to the Pound
Guinea
Half Crown
Threepenny Bit (pronounced thrupenny bit)
Sixpence
Florin
The banks closed for 4 days before the decimal changeover to prepare and everything went smoothly!
Rare 50p Coins £1 £2 £5 Collectable British Coins
Menai Bridge £1 coin https://www.google.co.uk/#q=1+2005+coin+with+menai+bridge
& http://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/coin-design-and-specifications/one-pound-coin/2004-forth-railway-bridge
£1 coin Skull https://www.google.co.uk/#q=%C2%A31+coin+with+skull
Rare Coins of the UK
Rare Coins of the UK
Rare 50p coins are trending on eBay this month. Some British coins in the UK are collectable and rare coins. We provide information on the rarest coins in general circulation from The Royal Mint. One of these coins could be in your pocket change right now!
Beatrix Potter 50p Rare Coins for sale from The Royal Mint
Beatrix Potter 50p Rare Coins for sale from The Royal Mint
These are selling like hot cakes especially the rarer Mrs Tiggy Winkle. A great addition to any coin collection. Spend a little extra and get BU quality coins.
150th Anniversary of Beatrix Potter 50p BU Coin 2016 UK16BPBU The Royal Mint
Jemima Puddle-Duck 50p BU Coin 2016 UK16BJPB The Royal Mint
Mrs Tiggy-Winkle 50p BU Coin 2016 UK16BTWB The Royal Mint
Peter Rabbit 50p BU Coin 2016 UK16BPRB The Royal Mint
Squirrel Nutkin 50p BU Coin 2016 UK16BSNB The Royal Mint
We have yet to see the total circulation figure for the Beatrix Potter coin collection so it is too early to consider them rare coins. Collectable? yes! Rare? no! The Silver Proof Coin versions are in limited number of a few thousand so would be considered rare coins.
Use our 50p value coin price tracker to see British coin market values through 2017. See the most recent auction sales history data for rare 50 pence pieces.
Join the Great British Coin Hunt for rare 50 pence coins by reading our article on 50p coins rare in the UK. There are however some eBay listings with what we consider dubious selling prices due to buyer ignorance of which coins are rare or valuable. For this reason, we will educate you to make informed decisions for buying and selling low circulation rare 50p coins.
Rare 50p Coins
Rare 50p Coins
The most valuable 50p coins we have seen on eBay include:
Wounded Soldier 50p (2nd VC 50p or aka Heroic Acts 50p)
If you are following the Great British Coin Hunt then you will need one of these:
Great British Coin Hunt 50p Album (Collector's Edition) CA50P15A
First and foremost use our 50p value listings guide to check which 50p coins are worth money
If you are new to collecting rare 50p coins, next buy a 50p Starter Pack. There are 15 different STARTER Packs for New Coin Collector. Start your Fifty Pence Coin Hunt from £6.49 on eBay.
Which are rare 50p coins?
Which are rare 50p coins?
Of course how rare a coin is forms part of the value along with condition. You may find some sales listing stating that coins are "rare" but do your homework before taking this at face value. The rarity of the coin is not the only factor when establishing it's selling price, condition is a major element so grade the coin for yourself before you commit to purchase. Not all coins marked "rare" on sales listing are worth money beyond their face value. Let us know of any rare 50p coins we can add to this website.
rare 50p coins
The Aquatics 50p is a rare coin that is fetching prices on Ebay up to £1,000. It was produced for the 2012 London Olympic Games but most importantly, there are 2 versions of this coin.
The 50 pence coin from the Aquatic sports showing water passing over a swimmer's face is very rare. This version of the Aquatics 50p circulated number was only 600 before the design was changed to show a clearly visible face.
On the other hand, the re-designed version with the swimmer's face clearly visible is quite common with a circulation number of 2,179,000 it IS NOT rare and typically sells for only a few pounds.
We have also heard that there are non-genuine versions in circulation bit we have no direct evidence.
There have been 2 recent sales on eBay of this coin fetching almost £1,000 after a bidding frenzy to secure this rarest of Olympic coins. Check our Rare Swimming Coin page for full details.
Kew Gardens 50p Rare Coin
One of the most rare 50p coins in UK circulation is a 50 pence piece issued to mark the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanical Gardens. Issued in 2009, only 210,000 of these commemorative 50p coins were minted and they now fetch up to £100 on Ebay depending upon condition. One in three people in the UK should have one of these rare 50p coins in their pocket and probably not even realise it's worth, so go and check your piggy bank now! Check our listing page for current Ebay sales listings for the Kew Gardens 50P
See the article from The Royal Mint, Could you have the UK’s rarest coin in your pocket?
The design shows the famous Chinese Pagoda building that sits in the grounds of Kew gardens, encircled by a vine and accompanied by the dates "1759" and "2009". If you look closely you will also see the word "KEW" at the base of the Pagoda.
Kew Gardens 50p Design and Specifications
Which are the rare 50p Olympic coins?
Which are the rare 50p Olympic coins?
To celebrate the 2012 Olympic Games hosted in London, The Royal Mint issued 29 fifty pence collectable coins of different designs, with some produced in smaller numbers than others. A full set normally commands around £35 while some of the more desirable or rare designs such as football, wheelchair rugby, wrestling and tennis can command £3 or £4. See the latest London Olympics 2012 50p Coins for sale or check our new rare 50p Olympic coins price guide.
Other Rare Coins
Other Rare Coins
50p coins are the most common however there are many other examples of rare British coins to be found in the British Isles. It is always worth checking The Royal Mint Coin Shop before you start bidding for rare coins on eBay that have been in circulation (and therefore marked or damaged). We have seen coins selling for more on eBay than you can buy them for new!
Image
Coin
Aquatics 50p Only 600 of the first design were produced where the swimmer's face is hidden by flowing water. The new design shows the face and is not worth any more than the other 2012 Olympic 50p coins.
Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games £2 second rarest coin design in circulation with a mintage of only 485,000
EU Single Market 50p Since Brexit was announced this 1992 / 1993 EC Presidency 50p coin has shot up in value, doubling in a few months.
Kew Gardens 50p released to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the foundation of Kew Gardens.
Undated 20p a number of 20p coins were incorrectly minted in 2008 resulting in their having no date!
1983 NEW PENCE 2p This is rare ONLY if it says NEW PENCE and carries the 1983 date. Coins printed post 1983 were supposed to have the TWO PENCE stamp. Were only issued in sets with other coins, not in general circulation. BU example is showing sold on eBay for £1,350
Date
2012
2002
1992
2009
2008
1983
Circulation
600
485,500
109,000
210,000
250,000
0
Est. Value
£900
£25
£50
£60
£70
£1,350
* values are for guidance only and from recent eBay sales listings
Please do your own research before buying or selling a coin.
Rare Coin Wall Chart
Rare Coin Wall Chart
Rare Coin Wall Chart
The Royal Mint produced a Rarest Coin Wall Chart in 2015 which is still relevant today as a lot of the rarest coins were minted before then. Click the image or here for The Royal Mint Rare Coin Wall Chart Download (file size is 3MB) so that you can make it your Desktop background or print it out to put on your wall.
Download Instructions:
hover over this Rare UK Coin Wall Chart link
right-click with your mouse (or press and long-hold with a touch screen)
select "Save Link as" to save the file to your local device
Print it out!
The wall chart shows the rarest UK coins in order of circulation and includes all denominations. It highlights the rarest 50p, rarest £1 and rarest £2 coins.
We hope they will produce and updated version soon and will post it here if they do.
Rare £2 Coin
Rare £2 Coin
Other rare coins come from unfortunate minting errors. Another famous one is the rare £2 coin issued to commemorate Guy Fawkes.
Instead of "Remember, Remember the Fifth of November" on the edge, some were minted saying "Pemember, Pemember the Fifth of November".
Accordingly this makes it now one of the rarest coins in the UK and is known as a Rare £2 Error Coin.
This Guy Fawkes £2 coin was released in 2005 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the gun powder plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
These rare £2 coins have recently been selling for an average of £5 on eBay, with a high of £9 and a low of £3. Not much over face value but condition is a factor.
Click Pemember Pemember Coins for current Ebay sales listings for this rare £2 coin.
Another rare £2 coin from 2013 is the London Underground 150th Anniversary Commemorative £2 coins, one featuring a train and the other the Underground roundel.
Dateless 20p rare coin
Dateless 20p rare coin
In 2008 when The Royal Mint re-designed the 20 pence piece, they decided to switch the date from the back of the coin to the front. However, an error at the Mint mismatched the old and new designs and between 50,000 and 200,000 coins were produced with no date on and put into circulation before the mistake was spotted. This rare 20p coin can now sell for up to £100 in mint condition.
If you all collecting £2 coins for the Great British Coin Hunt with The Royal Mint then you will need one of these;
4 Rare Coins That Could Be In Your Pocket
4 Rare Coins That Could Be In Your Pocket
Four rare coins that could be in your pocket right now
Over the past few weeks we have shared stories of amazing discoveries with you, everything from finding rare coins in toy boxes to digging up hordes of roman treasure in a field. But you also may be carrying something rare without even knowing it. Here are 4 coins that may be in your pocket right now that could brighten your day:
1. The Kew Gardens 50 pence piece. Struck in 2012, the Kew Gardens 50p is one of the lowest minted of its kind in history. Totaling a minuscule 200,000 (compared to the average 2 million!) the Kew Gardens 50p was only discovered to be rare in 2015, when collectors cottoned on to its remarkably low mintage. Now high grade examples of this piece can reach highs of up to £50 per coin – 100 times their face value.
2. The ‘undated’ 20 pence piece. In 2009, 200,000 ‘undated’ 20 pence pieces accidentally entered circulation due to an error. The date had changed sides of the coin, and coins were accidentally produced using two dies of which neither bore a date. These coins are famous and popular and can command prices upwards of £100 in good condition.
3. The ‘silver’ two pence piece is not silver at all. In actual fact, a small number of two pence pieces were struck in the copper-nickel alloy of the 50p, 20p, 10p and 5p. This happened by mistake at the Royal Mint. Only a handful is known. One sold at auction in 2016 for over £1350.
4. The early decimal coins (half penny, penny and two pence) of Great Britain featured the word ‘New’ before their denomination – e.g. Two New Pence. All 2p pieces struck before 1982 feature this title. However, in 1983, a few were minted with the title ‘New Pence’ rather than ‘Two Pence’. It is not certain how many of these were struck, but they are known to reach highs of over £500 at auction.
Source: London Mint Office Change Checker Guest Blog – Ultimate Guide: The Top 10 Rarest Coins In Circulation
At the Post Office Shop we highly recommend the Change Checker album for storing exceptional £2, £1 and 50p coins in your pocket. But how do you know if you have a rare coin in your possession?
Today’s guest post comes from Mark Liversidge at Change Checker who provides an insightful article detailing some of the rarest coins in circulation…………
Have I just found a rare coin? It’s a question which collectors ask daily, and to help answer it, we’ve put together these charts showing the TOP 10 rarest coins for each of the four denominations on the Change Checker App
Change Checker Album
How does your coin stack up against the others
How does your coin stack up against the others
The Northern Ireland 2002 Commonwealth Games is the rarest £2 coin currently in circulation – in fact the four designs in the 2002 Commonwealth Games series occupy the four top spots. Others to look out for include both 2008 and 2012 Olympic Handover Two Pound Coin designs.
The rarest One Pound coin currently in circulation is the Edinburgh £1 – have you ever spotted one in your change? The Royal Arms is a common design which is sometimes ignored, but remember to look out for one with a 2008 date – that’s actually the fourth rarest.
The Olympic Fifty Pence series is very popular with Change Checkers, but in terms of rarity, there really isn’t much separating the top 10 designs. The Football ‘Offside Rule’ 50p was certainly one of the most talked about designs, and it also narrowly ranks as the scarcest.
As mentioned in this previous blog the rarest coin, of any denomination, is the Kew Gardens 50p. Its status as the most scarce coin has been well publicised, and as a result, many are hoarded by collectors. The chart below illustrates just how rare it is compared with other Fifty Pence designs.
Hopefully our charts will help you identify which coins you should be looking for in your loose change, and remember you can Find, Collect and Swap all your coins for FREE with the Change Checker App: www.changechecker.org
These valuable coins could leave you in the money if you have any hidden away in a piggy bank
The Edinburgh design is the only £1 coin with a mintage below one million - with 935,000 coins in circulation.
On eBay, Edinburgh £1 coins can sell for up to £30, though these are for coins in excellent condition. Most Edinburgh coins on the auction site are going for a far more modest price of £5.
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On eBay, Edinburgh £1 coins can sell for up to £30
2010 London £1
2010 London £1
Another coin released as part of the capital cities of the UK series was the London £1.
The coin shows the portrait of the Queen and on the reverse side shows the four official badges of the capital cities of the UK, with a magnified image of the badge of London.
Similar to the Edinburgh coin, London £1 coins in perfect condition can sell for up to £30, but most sell for around £5.
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The coin features a magnified image of the badge of London
2008 Royal Arms £1
2008 Royal Arms £1
Despite the Royal Arms being a common one pound coin design, the 2008 version of the coin is actually the third rarest, with 3.9 million in circulation.
Royal Arms coins from 2008 can fetch up to £15 on eBay.
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Royal Arms coins from 2008 can fetch up to £15 on eBay
2014 Thistle £1
2014 Thistle £1
In 2014 two new £1 coins – one for Northern Ireland and one for Scotland – completed a series of four that began in 2013 with coins for England and Wales.
This coin design features the thistle and bluebell for Scotland, and is the fourth rarest coin in the UK.
Coins boxed and in excellent condition can fetch up to £10 on eBay.
Royal Mint
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This coin design features the thistle and bluebell for Scotland
2013 Daffodil £1
2013 Daffodil £1
This daffodil pound coin was released in 2013 as a floral set alongside a rose pound coin. The daffodil is the national flower of Wales, while the leek is also a national emblem of Wales.
The pair of coins marked the first release of a commemorative £1 since 2011.
Mint condition coins will fetch up to £15 on eBay.
Royal Mint
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The coin features a daffodil - the national flower of Wales
2013 Rose £1
2013 Rose £1
The rose 2013 coin featured in the floral coin set alongside the daffodil, and coins in perfect condition can attract bids of up to £15 on eBay. Most coins, however, will fetch around £3.
The design shows the rose and the oak to represent England.
Both the daffodil and rose coins have a mintage of 5.27 million.
Royal Mint
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The coin shows the rose and the oak to represent England
2014 Flax £1
2014 Flax £1
The 2014 flax coin was released alongside the thistle coin, to complete the series of four coins that began in 2013 with coins for England and Wales.
The £1 coins continue the tradition of honouring the home nations of Britain featuring familiar floral emblems. But, for the first time ever, they are paired together with other less well-known floral symbols.
This design features the shamrock and flax for Northern Ireland.
It will fetch up to £34 on eBay if the coin is in mint condition and boxed.
Royal Mint
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This design features the shamrock and flax for Northern Ireland
2010 Belfast £1
2010 Belfast £1
There are more than 6.2 million 2010 Belfast coins in circulation, meaning it is the eighth rarest £1 coin in the UK.
The coin is part of the 'City Series' collection, and will earn sellers up to £30 on eBay.
Royal Mint
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The Belfast coin is the eighth rarest £1 coin in the UK
1988 Crowned Shield £1
1988 Crowned Shield £1
This coin depicts one of the UK's heraldic emblems – the royal arms of the queen, surmounted by the crown of St Edward.
There are 7.11 million in circulation and most sell for around £6 on eBay.
Royal Mint
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The 1988 Crowned Shield coins sell for around £6 on ebay
1986 Flax £1
1986 Flax £1
The Northern Ireland £1 coin, the third in the series of four, was introduced into circulation in 1986. The coin's design features the flax plant - the emblem of Northern Ireland.
On eBay, mint condition, boxed coins are going for up to £17.
Royal Mint
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The coin's design features the flax plant - the emblem of Northern Ireland
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