An expert has urged Brits to keep an eye out for three valuable coins that could be worth far more than their face value. These £2 coins could fetch more than £1,600 if they feature some specific errors.
As with most collectables, the rarer a coin is, the more it is typically worth to collectors. In the case of these relatively new coins, they will be more sought after if they display some unusual mistakes.
In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, an expert known online as the Coin Collecting Wizard revealed how to spot these valuable coins. “£2 coins you can find in your change worth some serious money,” he said.
The first coin to look for is dated 2014 and features the image of Lord Kitchener on its reverse side (tails side). This was minted to mark 100 years since the start of the First World War.
However, a small selection of these coins featured a mistake. The expert explained: “This coin launched to mark the centenary of the First World War. The error version is missing the words, ‘two pounds’ from the head side.”
He added: “It features an image of Lord Kitchener, a prominent British war figure who appeared on Government propaganda posters.” He stated that this coin could fetch around £1,000 to collectors.
However, he stipulated: “Only the version with the missing wording is worth this kind of money.” In 2024, one of these coins with the error sold at auction to an American bidder for £1,000.
The second coin highlighted by the expert was minted in 2016. Known as the Shakespeare tragedy coin it features the image of a skull and rose on its reverse.
But what makes it especially valuable is an inscription on the outer rim of the coin. Certain versions of this coin were given the wrong inscription.
It should read, “What a piece of work is a man”. However, some have the wrong inscription, “For King and country.” This typically sells for around £30, the expert said.
Finally, he explained that something known as a “fried egg” error could make your £2 coin worth £600. He said: “A design error on some of the Royal Mint’s £2 coins has left them looking like a runny fried egg as the middle has spilt out onto the outer rim.
“This is one, you should definitely look out for on all your coins.” This error gives the impression that the inner steel-coloured disk is spilling out into the outer yellow metal nickel-brass ring.
At the time of reporting, some examples of fried egg error coins were listed on eBay for £333 and £260.
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