A social media coin expert has issued an urgent call to UK collectors and the public to scrutinise their spare change, as a specific rare £2 coin could be worth a small fortune – potentially enough to fund an early retirement.
The 'Retire Today' £2 Coin Error
In a post to his 36,800 followers on Instagram, the collector known as @CoinCollectingWizard highlighted a critical error on a commemorative £2 piece. The coin in question is the 2014 First World War £2 coin featuring Lord Kitchener. On the standard version, the obverse (heads side) correctly bears the inscription 'Two Pounds'.
The rare error version, however, is missing this 'Two Pounds' inscription entirely. "Only a few of this error have been found and it has a value of over £1,000," the expert stated, emphasising its significant potential value to the right buyer.
Another Valuable Mistake: The Shakespeare Tragedies Coin
The collector also pointed enthusiasts towards a second valuable error coin circulating in the UK. This is the Shakespeare Tragedies £2 coin from 2016. While most of these coins have the correct edge inscription reading 'what a piece of work is a man', a small number were mistakenly minted with the edge lettering 'for King and country'.
This phrase was intended for a different commemorative £2 coin. Finding a Shakespeare £2 with this wrong edge inscription could make it worth up to 20 times its face value, according to the advice shared online.
What To Do If You Find a Rare Coin
If you believe you have discovered one of these rare error coins, experts strongly advise following key steps to preserve its value:
Do not clean the coin. Cleaning can cause irreversible damage and drastically reduce its value to serious collectors.
Handle it by the edges only. Avoid touching the faces of the coin, as oils and dirt from your skin can degrade its surface.
Research realistic prices. Look at sold listings on platforms like eBay to understand what collectors are actually paying, rather than focusing on ambitious asking prices.
Seek professional advice. Consult reputable local coin dealers, consider third-party grading services, and get multiple appraisals before making any decisions.
Use online resources. Websites like The Royal Mint can help with official identification and verification of your coin.
Finally, carefully consider your selling options, whether through a specialist auction house, a trusted dealer, or a direct sale to another collector.
