Coin experts urge Brits to check their change for two rare £2 error coins still in circulation
An expert shared two rare coins to look out for(Image: Getty)
Brits are being encouraged to check their change for two particular coins still doing the rounds that could fetch upwards of £1,000. An expert has revealed these £2 coins are highly coveted among collectors.
Within the coin collecting community, scarcity typically drives value. A coin might be scarce owing to its age or limited production numbers. Alternatively, rarity can stem from manufacturing mistakes. This applies to two coins recently spotlighted by the Coin Collecting Wizard. Through his most recent video shared on social media platform TikTok, the specialist identified two particular £2 coins worth searching for.
He began by discussing the Lord Kitchener £2 coin.
This piece displays Lord Kitchener’s image on the reverse side. The Royal Mint produced it in 2014 to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.
Approximately 5,720,000 were manufactured and distributed into circulation. Nevertheless, the valuable variant collectors should seek has a distinctive fault.
The error version is missing the inscription “two pounds” on the obverse side, positioned below Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait. He explained: “This is is the Lord Kitchener £2 coin released in 2014 to mark the centenary of World War One.
“But there’s a rare error version that collectors are going crazy for. Normally, every £2 coin should have the words ‘two pounds’ on the obverse side underneath the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
“But some Lord Kitchener coins were accidentally struck without these words. This mistake makes it super rare and collectors are willing to pay big money for it.
“These error coins have been spotted selling for anywhere between £900 and £1,000 and in some cases even more at auction.” According to RWB Auctions, a variant of this coin sold for £1,000 in February 2024.
He subsequently provided information about another £2 coin, this one dating from 2016. Dubbed the Shakespeare tragedy coin, it displays a skull and roses on its reverse side.
A number of these coins were mistakenly minted with an incorrect inscription running along the outer rim. The proper quote should read “what a piece of work is a man”, yet the faulty version bears the words “for king and country” instead.
He explained: “Or you could come across this Shakespeare skull £2 coin from 2016 that also has a rare error. Some have the wrong edge inscription that says ‘for king and country’ instead of ‘what a piece of work is a man’
“A very cool error to find and some easy money.” In May 2024, an example of this coin fetched £123 at auction.