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The rarest coins since 2008!

James Finlayson

James Finlayson

January 24, 2018

Dig into your pockets ladies and gents, because the loose change jingling around in there could be worth a mighty mint! To be clear, we’re not just talking 100-year old coins here, it could be coins from the last ten years that could make you that little bit richer.

Here’s a breakdown of the 5 rarest coins since 2008 that could be hiding down the back of the sofa or saved in your penny jar, so get looking:

The undated 20p from 2008

Used to be worth: 20p.    Now: valued at £100

This error coin has gone up by some 40,000% and has to be perhaps the rarest coin jingling around in your holiday fund jars. Caused by wrongly paired obverse and reverse dies, 200,000 of these ‘mule’ 20p coins were circulated

The 2009 Kew Gardens 50p

Used to be worth: 50p.     Now: £30

This really is one of the rarest, with only 210,000 in circulation, the design on it (the Chinese Pagoda) goes back as far as 1761, and is a real precious find if you happen across one.

 The (Coloured!) Peter Rabbit 50p Coin from 2016

Used to be Worth: 50p.     Now: up to £800

Averaging between £500-£800, these lovely coins are technically a coin collectors dream, they sold out (unsurprisingly, due to their beautiful colouration), due to the Beatrix Potter design and specialist sellers can (and do) sell them for well over the asking price, somewhere in the £600 region.

The ‘Abolition of the Slave Trade’ Elizabeth II 2007 £2 coin

Used to be worth: £2        Now: £1,100

This £2 coins’ error lies in the wording on it: instead of being inscribed with “AM I NOT A MAN AND BROTHER” it actually says “UNITED INTO ONE KINGDOM”, which was supposed to be the inscription to be used for the Act of Union Anniversary Coin.

The Olympic Swimming 50p Coin from 2012

Used to be worth: 50p.      Now: approx. £1,000

A total of 29 coins were released in 2012 to commemorate the 2012 London Olympics, with designs incorporating 29 different sports, an error occurring with only 1, the Aquatics 50p coin. Orniginally, the coin showed water covering the swimmers face, however, it was decided that the swimmers face should show better in later coins. It is unknown quite how many there are in circulation with the original print, and they’re harder to see because of the subtle difference, so eyes sharp and do that double take, it will be well rewarded at approx. £1000!

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