Many think variations of 50p and £2 coins have a collectable value, partly due to hype on eBay and in the press. These were accidentally released, having been made and with an old die dating from the introduction of decimalisation and which had the word ‘New’ included in the design.

It is estimated that at least 600 of these coins failed to be returned to the mint.Īnother example of a rare error, which can command a few hundred pounds, are sample 2p coins from 1983. Issued to commemorate the London Olympics, the ‘hidden swimmer’ version of the aquatics 50p was withdrawn and might achieve £500 - £800, except for one example found early on that achieved £3,000. Two genuine exceptions are the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p, which had a low mintage of 210,00 and regularly sell for £60-120 at auction, and the 2012 ‘hidden swimmer’ (the left-hand coin below). Modern ‘error’ coins listed on eBay generally only achieve £10-20 at most, despite some listed at inflated high prices. Some coins are listed with extraordinarily high asking prices, but these will never actually sell (see below). Such coins were minted in their millions and are simply not as scarce as people think.Īs a curiosity and to a ‘commemorative’ collector the currency base metal version may achieve a little above face value, but only on eBay. There has been much hype driven by the press and eBay as to the expectation of high values for these ‘commemorative’ and ‘error’ coins, coupled with numerous copies coming in from China and elsewhere. Coupled with cutbacks particularly in quality control, this has seen considerably more of these ‘error’ types enter into circulation. In recent years, the Royal Mint has seen itself put under considerable pressure to produce ‘commemorative’ type coins, rather than the older style single design type. There is a premium for boxed proof coins with certificates of authenticity, which can command higher prices. However, the price of gold fluctuates on an hourly basis, so a current valuation is important if you are thinking of selling. Unless dating from Young Head/Shield Back Victorian era or earlier and a small number of rarer coins, sovereigns and half sovereigns have a fixed price determined by the current price of gold. Silver coins from 1920 to 1946 contain 50% silver, however, from 1947 onwards ‘silver’ coins have been made with cupronickel and as such have no real value, generating around £30 for a 10-kilo bag of scrap. Silver coins minted in 1919 and earlier were made of 92.5% silver (925 sterling), which means that even if they do not have a collectable value, again except for those with rare dates or in excellent condition, they have a bullion value. However, condition is still a consideration for example, a worn ‘Bun Penny’ will still have little value unless it is one of the very few rare dates. Thus, they have little numismatic value unless, in the case of copper coins, they were minted pre-1900 or in the Victorian era. Pre-decimal coins, with a few exceptions, were minted in their millions and many survive in excellent condition.

Pre 1947 silver coins value