A coin expert has urged people in the UK to take a closer look at their loose change, as a seemingly ordinary 2p coin could be worth up to £1,000. A TikTok user known as Thecoincollectoruk, who has over 160,000 followers, shared advice on identifying these rare coins, revealing that certain 2p coins could hold significant value if they meet two specific criteria.
The expert explained that the 2p coin must have “New Pence” written on the front and bear the date “1983” on the reverse. He said: “To check if your 2p coin is valuable, flip it over and look for the date 1983. On the front of the coin, it should also say ‘New Pence.’ This is important because, in 1983, the Royal Mint accidentally produced some coins with ‘New Pence’ on them instead of the updated design.”
The expert went on to give some background about the coins, stating: “Between 1971 and 1981, the Royal Mint created millions of 2p coins as part of the introduction of the new decimal currency. Most of these coins were common and hold little value today. However, in 1983, a mistake led to the minting of a small number of coins with the outdated ‘New Pence’ inscription, making them incredibly rare.”
Finding one of these coins is a challenge, as there are believed to be fewer than 1,000 in circulation. The coin expert highlighted: “The 1983 version was mainly included in specific coin sets and is extremely rare. If you happen to find one, you’re looking at a selling price of around £800 to £1,000 at auction.”
For those lucky enough to come across this rare coin, the expert strongly recommends selling it at auction, where collectors are willing to pay top prices. According to a report by The Express, this rare find could turn a small piece of loose change into a important payday.
