A coin expert has revealed that a specific 2p coin, the 1983 New Pence piece, could be worth up to £1,000 and might be hiding in your change right now. The coin is considered so special that collectors are eager to find one, even decades after it was minted.
Expert shares details on TikTok
The @CoinCollectingWizard, who has 272,000 followers on TikTok, shared a clip discussing the 1983 New Pence coin. In the video, he warned viewers never to clean their change, saying: "Did you know about the New Pence 2p coin worth £1,000? Don't worry though this one is 1971 and not the rare date."
He went on to explain that after the design changed from New Pence to Two Pence in 1982, a mistake was made during production of a small number of 1983 coins. These particular coins were mistakenly minted bearing the obsolete 'NEW PENCE' wording, making them the authentic treasure to seek.
How to spot the rare coin
The expert stated: "If it says New Pence on the reverse instead of the words Two Pence then you have found it." He added: "If you are lucky enough to find a 1983 New Pence 2p in your change, then it is worth around £1,000. You are more likely to find the coin in the 1983 Royal Mint set though as this is where the mistake happened."
All two penny pieces minted between 1971 and 1981 bear the inscription 'NEW PENCE' as part of their reverse design. In 1982 and in following years, the inscription was substituted with the wording 'TWO PENCE'. However, a year afterwards, these coins were erroneously struck with the 'NEW PENCE' inscription.
Collectors react and next steps
Since the expert shared the information, many viewers expressed disbelief that some collectors would ever clean their coins. One said it was the "worst thing to do", while another added: "Never clean coins."
If you suspect you own the 1983 coin, the first thing to do is seek professional advice to get a proper valuation. To gain a profit, you must find the coin which displays the inscription 'NEW PENCE' on the reverse alongside the date 1983. While a limited quantity of these 2p coins from 1983 are in circulation, the Royal Mint stated they were originally designated for special sets, but they can still appear in your change.
