Look, I know what you’re thinking: “Great, another coin I’ll never find.” But you might! The Royal Mint struck over 10 million of these for circulation. They’re not rare—yet. But they are becoming scarcer because people hoard them, sell them on eBay, or lose them in the sofa. And let’s be real: 10p coins are boring. A £2 coin? That’s your bus fare, your coffee, your parking meter. Why not make it a conversation starter?
I’ve seen them go for £5 to £15 online, depending on condition. Some versions have a slightly different edge inscription (“Standing on the shoulders of giants”), which is even rarer. But don’t buy one just for the money. Buy one because it’s a tactile history lesson. It’s heavier than a normal £2 coin? Actually, no—same weight, same size. But it feels more significant. That’s the power of a good story.
The Irony of Circulation
Here’s the kicker: the Mary Rose is famously preserved in a special museum in Portsmouth, sprayed with wax to stop her rotting. Meanwhile, millions of her coin replicas are jangling around in pockets, getting scratched by keys and dropped in puddles. History, you cheeky thing.
I found my second one in a supermarket self-checkout machine. The machine spat it back at me because it was slightly worn. I took it as a sign: this coin was destined for me. Or maybe the machine just had a bad sensor. Either way, I now keep it in my desk drawer next to a crumpled fiver and a receipt from 2019. It makes me smile every time.
The rare £2, 50p, 20p, 2p coins which could be worth hundreds of pounds
