Britons are being urged to rummage through their pockets, wallets, and piggy banks after a coin collecting expert revealed that a specific 2p piece could be worth a staggering £2,000. The fortune could be hiding in plain sight, masquerading as ordinary change.
The Valuable Minting Mistake
The coin in question is a 1983 two pence piece bearing an inscription that shouldn't be there. According to an Instagram expert known as @CoinCollectingWizard, a tiny number of these coins were accidentally struck with the old 'New Pence' wording instead of the correct 'Two Pence'. This type of production flaw is known as a 'mule error', where the wrong die is used during minting.
The collector explained to his 37,100 followers that while 2p coins from 1971 onwards originally said 'New Pence', the design was officially updated in 1982. "But here's the twist," he noted, "a small number of 1983 coins were accidentally made with the old 'New Pence' design." This rare oversight is what makes the coin so valuable to enthusiasts.
How to Identify the Rare 1983 2p Coin
If you want to see if you're sitting on a small fortune, you need to know exactly what to look for. The key details are specific and must all align.
First, check the year: The coin must be dated 1983. Coins from 1982 or earlier with 'New Pence' are common and not valuable.
Second, check the inscription: On the reverse (tails side), around the edge of the segment featuring the Prince of Wales feathers, it must clearly state 'NEW PENCE'. The correct version for 1983 should read 'TWO PENCE'.
What to Do If You Find One
Discovering a potential treasure is exciting, but experts warn against hasty actions that could destroy its value. Follow these steps to preserve your find:
- Do not clean the coin: Any attempt to polish or wash it can cause irreversible damage and drastically reduce its value to collectors.
- Handle with care: Try to touch only the coin's edges to prevent oils and dirt from your fingers tarnishing the surfaces.
- Seek professional validation: Contact a reputable coin dealer or numismatist who can authenticate the error and give a professional valuation.
- Research market value: Check online auction sites like eBay, but look at 'sold' listings rather than asking prices to gauge a realistic current market value. Resources from the Royal Mint can also aid in identification.
With thousands of pounds potentially resting in a forgotten jar of coppers, the message from the collecting community is clear: take a moment to check your change. You might just find that a piece of history from 1983 is your ticket to an unexpected windfall.
