Coin collectors have been warned that the Bee £1 coin, once considered the rarest in UK change, is now worth only face value after the Royal Mint released millions more into circulation.
According to Instagram user @CoinCollectingWizard, the coin initially had only around 170,000 in circulation, making it highly sought after. However, the Royal Mint then minted approximately 8 million additional coins, causing the rarity to vanish overnight.
The coin, part of a series celebrating UK wildlife, was first issued in 2023 with King Charles III's portrait. While standard versions once sold for around £12.90 on eBay, and error coins fetched up to £30,000, the increased mintage has driven values down to face value.
Collectors are advised to check their change for the 12-sided coin, but unless it has an error, it is no longer considered rare.
