12 hours ago
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- Daily Record
Two UK pennies worth more than £2,600 if they have this tiny mark
These coins are highly sought-after by collectors due to an initial found on one side
An expert has urged Brits to look out for two old pennies that could be worth over £2,600 combined. These pre-decimal coins are no longer in circulation but could be hiding away in an attic or coin jar.
However, these pieces are only especially valuable if they feature two tiny letters. This mark will make them highly sought-after by collectors.
In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, an expert known as the Coin Collecting Wizard, said: 'Thousands of pounds if you have either a 1918 or 1919 old UK penny with this mint mark.
'As you will be aware if you follow me, there are many pre-decimal pennies from the UK that have some crazy values, but it all depends on the date.' But you need to check for the initials 'KN' on both coins to be sure they are collectable.
'Today we discuss the 1919 KN penny, KN meaning King's Norton Mint,' he continued. 'Of the two mints, the King's Norton is by far the most difficult to get.'
Rather than being produced at the Royal Mint like most coins in the UK, these were created at the King's Norton Mint in Birmingham. At the time this company was contracted to help keep up with demand for coins.
The expert gave more details: 'The obverse [head side] shows a portrait of King George the Fifth by Australian sculptor Bertram MacKennal. George the Fifth was king of the United Kingdom and the British dominions and Emperor of India from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
'The reverse [tail side} shows Britannia seated with trident and shield. It is the same as other pennies of that era with the exception of the KN mint mark.'
It is the 'KN' mark that sets it apart. This can be spotted just under the shield held by Britannia on the tail side of the coin.
However, you will need to look closely as it is very hard to see. If your coin has these letters it could be worth an incredible £2,000 or more.
'If you are lucky enough to find the 1919 KN penny then it may surprise you that this coin can sell for over £2,000 depending on condition,' he said. The expert then showed an image of the 1918 KN penny.
He added: 'Now as with a lot of these coins, the value very much depends on the condition of the coin. A good grade 1918 KN penny can be over £30, but as the condition increases, such as an extra fine version, you would be looking at over £600.'
