Rare 2p coin sells for eye-watering £400 thanks to unique ‘tint' on its metal… and YOU could have one in your change
The 1985 coin was cast in the wrong metal, stealing the signature silver sheen traditionally associated with five or ten pence coins.
After being found at a piggy bank in the late 1990s, the lucky find was expected to sell for up to £400.
It went under the hammer at RWB Auctions in Royal Wootton Bassett at 11am on April 22.
Most of these mess-ups are caught well before circulation, meaning those which do reach the streets are highly valuable.
Unlike other 2p coins, it's made from cupronickel, a metal alloy normally used for coins of larger values, such as 10 pence coins.
Coin expert and YouTuber Christopher Collects, who works at The Britannia Company, described how the unusual coin may have been made.
He explained how the wrong value must have been struck on the wrong disc.
He added: 'So somehow a cupronickel silvery-looking blank has managed to get into one of the striking machines and has filtered into the machine whilst they were striking two pence coins.
'There's this great big metal bin that's full of all these blanks – because they're not a coin until they've been struck – and they just lift them up and tip them into a hopper.
'It all gets fed into the machine, and so one of these blanks has managed to get stuck in the machinery and has then dislodged while they're striking two-pence coins.
'They can't check every single one, so normally they would grab a handful and check them over, and it's obviously not been in the handful of coins that they've pulled out to check.'
3
He continued: "With modern quality control processes, most mistakes of this kind are identified quickly, but it is clear that a small number of 2p error coins were released into circulation in 1985."
The copper expert says it's "anybody's guess" how many of the silver 2p coins are in circulation, but pointed out "if you don't look, you won't find."
He added: "This just sort of highlights the kind of treasure that you can find in your change, in your pocket, in your money jars."
Basically, check your piggy bank, folks, as your old school 2ps might earn you a pretty payday.
The Royal Mint produce 2 billion coins a year, but modern checking has made errors rarer, and therefore, fluke faulty coins more valuable.
The coin sports a crowned portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II by artist Raphael Maklouf, which was used on British currency between 1985 and 1997.
On the flip side, the iconography of the Prince of Wales, complete with ostrich plumes perched on a coronet engraved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
20 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Royal Mint issues last coins featuring Elizabeth II
The final batch of coins featuring the late Queen Elizabeth II are entering circulation across the UK, the Royal Mint has announced. More than 23 million Queen £1 coins are being released alongside 7.5 million new King Charles III £1 coins. The Royal Mint said the last of the Elizabeth II coins, dated 2022, are the rarest £1 coins in active circulation. The historic transition – with the dual release of almost 31 million coins – represents a significant moment for UK coinage, as the nation witnesses the changeover from Britain's longest-reigning monarch to her son and heir on the £1 denomination, the Royal Mint said. The Queen's £1 coins will be the final ones bearing Elizabeth II's portrait to enter circulation. Rebecca Morgan, the director of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint, said: 'This release represents a pivotal moment in British coinage history. 'As we release more of the King Charles III £1 coins into circulation alongside the final coins of Queen Elizabeth II, we're witnessing the physical representation of our monarchy's transition. This dual release creates an exceptional opportunity for both seasoned numismatists and those new to coin collecting.' The Royal Mint is encouraging the public to check its change over the coming weeks, as the new coins begin to appear in pockets and tills. Ms Morgan added: 'Finding these new coins in your change could spark a rewarding hobby that connects you with the heritage, history and craftsmanship behind British currency.' Since the introduction of the King's effigy on UK coinage in 2023, the 50p and £1 are the only denominations with his portrait to have entered circulation so far. Inspired by flora and fauna The King's £1 coins feature an intricate bee design on the reverse and are part of the Definitive collection, inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles. Some 2.975 million £1s with the King's effigy were released last August. In total, there are around 24.7 billion coins in circulation across the UK, with the King's coins representing only around 0.004 per cent of those, making his new coins highly desirable to collectors. All UK coins bearing the Queen's portrait will remain legal tender and in active circulation to allow a smooth transition and minimise the environmental impact and cost.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Australian novel attracts controversy over fictionalised depiction of gay codebreaker Alan Turing
A novel written by a prominent book industry figure in which persecuted gay man Alan Turing has sex with a woman and fathers a child has been criticised online for its portrayal of the codebreaker. The Turing Protocol was released in July and was written by Nick Croydon, the CEO of QBD Books, the largest Australian-owned bookshop chain, where the book is being heavily promoted. Published by Affirm Press, which was bought by Simon & Schuster last year, the novel's cover features the question: 'If you had the power to change history, would you dare?' In the thriller, Turing, the brilliant British wartime mathematician and computer pioneer, builds a time travel machine and has sex with Joan Clarke, with whom he secretly fathers a child. Turing is otherwise depicted as gay and the story includes details of his persecution for his sexuality. In real life, Turing was briefly engaged to Bletchley Park colleague, Clarke, when the pair were employed in vital code-breaking during the war. He was later convicted for 'gross indecency' with another man and died by suicide at the age of 41 after enduring chemical castration. Queen Elizabeth II posthumously pardoned Turing in 2013, four years after prime minister Gordon Brown apologised for his 'appalling' treatment. Croydon told The Australian newspaper he had not pretended Turing was straight, but needed to give him a child for the purpose of his plot. 'I wrote this novel as a tribute to him. I wanted to highlight the genius that he was, but also the injustice that he suffered,' he said. As of Tuesday afternoon, the book had received 115 ratings on Goodreads, with five stars making up 21% and one stars making up 64%. Many of the most positive reviews came from first-time Goodreads reviewers. The negative reviews included anger about what some claimed was the 'erasure' of gay history. 'Anyone who is aware of Alan Turing and his prosecution will be scratching their head in disbelief,' one reader wrote. 'Erasing the whole point of Alan Turing's tragedy is one of the worst things someone can do. Erasing LGBTQ history, erasing a real person's pain? … Turing was not some fictional character to straight-ify,' wrote another. The book is QBD's fiction book of the month and is being actively marketed by the company, including a promotional Channel 7 interview in which Croydon explained that his favourite subjects at school were history and mathematics. Authors who have endorsed the book include historical fiction writer Fiona McIntosh and former QBD fiction book of the month author, Chris Hammer, who compared the book to Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. Prize-winning author Trent Dalton described the book as 'wildly imaginative' and urged people to 'read the Turing Protocol now', while Candice Fox said it was 'vivid'. Commenting on gay erasure broadly, Equality Australia legal director, Heather Corkhill, told Guardian Australia that 'erasing or marginalising LGBTIQ+ people and characters from historical and cultural narratives to fit a more heteronormative or 'traditional' worldview is not a new phenomenon – but it risks erasing our shared history and diminishing our understanding of the LGBTQ+ experience'. 'At no time did I say Turing wasn't gay,' Croydon said, according to the Australian. 'The book makes it very plain that he is gay. It talks about how he had to hide the fact that he was gay, and in the historical note page at the back of the book I again acknowledge the travesty of the treatment he received.' In a statement released last week, QBD said throughout the novel, Turing's 'identity as a gay man is neither erased, questioned nor diminished'. 'Speculative historical fiction often examines phenomena like lavender marriages – arrangements where LGBTQ+ individuals married opposite-sex partners due to societal pressures, ensuring protection and companionship – which were common during Turing's era and beyond. 'Regarding reviews, it's not unusual for friends, family, colleagues and peers to provide reviews of an author's work. QBD Books staff are a team of avid readers across the country who engage with literature passionately, some of whom have shared their genuine views on the book – both complimentary and critical. 'QBD Books' Book of the Month program follows a rigorous selection process that highlights debut or new authors who have written standout works. Each month submissions are received from publishers, and new releases are reviewed by our team of expert buyers, after which we select four titles for the whole calendar month to spotlight.' QBD, Simon and Schuster and Croydon have been contacted for comment.
Powys County Times
5 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Last batch of rare final Queen Elizabeth II £1 coins entering circulation
The final batch of Queen Elizabeth II £1 coins are entering circulation across the UK, the Royal Mint has announced. More than 23 million Queen coins are being released alongside 7.5 million new King Charles III £1 coins. The Royal Mint said the last of the Elizabeth II coins, dated 2022, are the rarest £1 coins in active circulation. The historic transition – with the dual release of almost 31 million coins – represents a significant moment for UK coinage, as the nation witnesses the changeover from Britain's longest-reigning monarch to her son and heir on the £1 denomination, the Royal Mint said. The Queen's £1 coins will be the final ones bearing Elizabeth II's portrait to enter circulation. Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said: 'This release represents a pivotal moment in British coinage history. 'As we release more of the King Charles III £1 coins into circulation alongside the final coins of Queen Elizabeth II, we're witnessing the physical representation of our monarchy's transition. 'This dual release creates an exceptional opportunity for both seasoned numismatists and those new to coin collecting.' The Royal Mint is encouraging the public to check its change over the coming weeks, as the new coins begin to appear in pockets and tills across the nation. Ms Morgan added: 'Finding these new coins in your change could spark a rewarding hobby that connects you with the heritage, history and craftsmanship behind British currency.' Since the introduction of the King's effigy on UK coinage in 2023, the 50p and £1 are the only denominations with Charles's portrait to have entered circulation so far. The King's £1 coins feature an intricate bee design on the reverse and are part of the Definitive collection, inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles. Some 2.975 million £1s with the King's effigy were released in August last year. In total, there are around 24.7 billion coins in circulation across the UK, with the King's coins representing only around 0.004% of those, making his new coins highly desirable to collectors. All UK coins bearing the Queen's portrait will remain legal tender and in active circulation to allow a smooth transition and minimise the environmental impact and cost.
