A rare 2p coin from 1983 featuring the inscription "new pence" instead of "two pence" could be worth £1,000, according to a coin expert. The error occurred when the Royal Mint accidentally used old dies during production.
What Makes the 1983 2p Coin Valuable?
The 2p coin was first introduced in 1971 during decimalisation, originally bearing the words "new pence." In 1982, the Royal Mint updated the design to read "two pence." However, a minting error in 1983 led to a small number of coins being struck with the old "new pence" wording. These error coins were never intended for circulation and were mostly included in special uncirculated sets for collectors, making them extremely rare.
Coin expert Coin Collector UK explained in a TikTok video: "Wait, hold up. Your two pence coin could be worth £1,000. Want to know why? Well, it is all to do with this right here. The words 'new pence' all because of a simple wording mistake."
How to Identify the Rare Coin
To check if you have a valuable 2p coin, look for a 1983 date on the coin and the inscription "new pence" on the reverse side. The expert emphasised: "If you spot a 1983 2p coin with 'new pence' on it rather than 'two pence', you are holding a £1,000 mistake in your hand. But you must remember this important information - the only valuable new pence coin is in fact the 2p coin from 1983. None others."
Collectors can currently purchase a 1983 2p coin as part of an uncirculated set for £1,250 from the Britannia Coin Company.
Official Confirmation from the Royal Mint
The Royal Mint's website confirms: "In 1983 a small number of 2p coins were mistakenly struck with the wording 'new pence' on the reverse. These coins were produced to brilliant uncirculated quality - a standard higher than ordinary circulating coins - and were included in special sets intended for collectors."
The Mint adds: "Since there are relatively few coins with the date 1983 and the inscription 'new pence' in circulation, they may well have a value higher than face value to a collector." However, the Royal Mint cannot comment on individual coin values and recommends consulting a coin dealer.
