Britons are being urged to rummage through their spare change immediately, as a common-looking 2p piece could be hiding a fortune. A rare minting error from 1983 means that some of these coins are now worth up to £2,000 to eager collectors.
The Valuable Mistake in Your Pocket
The hunt is on for a specific 1983 two pence coin. The crucial detail is the inscription around its edge. While most 2p coins from that year correctly display the words 'Two Pence', a tiny number were accidentally struck using an old die bearing the previous inscription, 'New Pence'.
This production fault, known as a 'mule' error, occurred because the Royal Mint had changed the design wording in 1982. The expert coin collector behind the Instagram account @CoinCollectingWizard, who has over 37,000 followers, highlighted the coin's significant value. He explained that the accidental use of the obsolete die has created one of the UK's most sought-after modern rarities.
How to Identify the Rare 1983 2p Coin
If you want to check if you're sitting on a small windfall, follow these steps. First and foremost, check the year: you need a coin dated 1983. Then, examine the inscription. It must clearly say 'New Pence' and not the standard 'Two Pence'. It is vital not to confuse it with the common 2p coins from 1971 to 1981, which all carry the 'New Pence' legend and are not valuable.
The Instagram expert stated: "But here's the twist, a small number of 1983 coins were accidentally made with the old 'New Pence' design... Because it's so rare collectors will pay up to £2,000 for one."
What to Do If You Find One
Discovering a potential treasure is exciting, but you must handle it correctly to preserve its value. Do not clean the coin, as this can cause irreversible damage and slash its worth. Always handle it by the edges to avoid transferring oils and dirt from your fingers onto the surfaces.
Your next step should be to consult a professional coin dealer or valuer for authentication. You can also research online by checking the Royal Mint's resources and looking at sold listings on eBay to gauge realistic market prices, rather than just hopeful asking prices.
So, before you next tip your change into a jar or hand it over at a shop, take a moment to look. That seemingly ordinary 2p coin from 1983 could be your ticket to a four-figure sum.
