UK coin collectors are being urged to temper their excitement over a specific £1 piece that was once hailed as the holy grail of loose change. The Bee £1 coin, celebrated for its intricate design, has seen its status plummet from 'super rare' to commonplace, according to a prominent online collector.
The Meteoric Rise and Fall of a 'Rarest' Coin
Instagram user @CoinCollectingWizard, who has a following of nearly 37,000, recently highlighted the dramatic story of the Bee £1. He revealed that when this coin first entered circulation, a mere 170,000 pieces were available. This extremely low mintage instantly made it one of the hardest £1 coins to find, sending collectors into a frenzy and driving up its market value significantly.
"Not long ago this was being called the rarest £1 coin in your change," the collector stated in his post. He explained that its genuine scarcity meant collectors "went mad for it," with standard versions selling for around £12.90 on eBay at the peak. Exceptionally rare error versions even commanded staggering prices, with one unique listing reportedly hitting the £30,000 mark.
Why the Rarity Vanished Overnight
The collector's central warning revolves around a crucial event: the Royal Mint's decision to release a massive additional batch of the coins. According to the post, the mint later put around 8 million more Bee £1 coins into circulation. This single action effectively destroyed the coin's scarcity.
"In just one night, the rarity had gone with values dropping fast," the collector noted. He emphasised that this serves as a perfect example of why mintage figures matter for determining a coin's true collectable value. The viral social media posts claiming certain coins are 'worth thousands' cannot always be trusted once new batches are produced.
What the Bee £1 Coin is Worth Now
The current reality for anyone finding a Bee £1 coin is straightforward. The coin is now worth only its face value of £1, unless it is a version with a distinctive minting error. The coins were originally released by the Royal Mint in 2023 as part of a series celebrating UK wildlife and nature, highlighting the importance of pollinators. They feature the portrait of King Charles III on the obverse. Further batches were struck with 2025 dates when more entered circulation this year.
For those still keen to hunt for one, the advice is simple: check your everyday change for the distinctive 12-sided £1 coins. While they are no longer rare in circulated condition, uncirculated versions can still be sought from specialised coin dealers or online marketplaces.
