One penny coin is 'rarest in UK history' and worth £72,000 if you find it. Check your change now as a penny coin deemed the 'rarest in UK history' is turning heads right now for its eye-watering price tag of £72,000 – so do you have it?
The 1933 British Penny: Rarest Coin in UK History
Certain coins are worth a staggering amount of money. When it comes to rare coins, it could be a special 20p or even the 50p which is 'skyrocketing in value' that could pique your interest. But now a penny coin, known as the 'rarest in UK history', is causing quite a stir among collectors who are desperate to get their hands on it. The piece holds a mega value of £72,000 and you could potentially be keeping it in your pocket without you even realising it. So think Atlantic Salmon 50p, but even bigger... Over on social media, one expert recently discussed the penny.
Instagram user, known as @CoinCollectingWizard, said the 1933 British penny is 'one of the rarest coins in UK history'. Speaking with his 37,000 followers, he said it's a 'British penny that could change your life overnight'. He added: 'Imagine finding a humble old penny in your change... only to discover it's worth a fortune. That's exactly the case with the legendary 1933 British penny – one of the rarest coins in UK history.'
Why Is the 1933 Penny So Rare?
The coin collector previously told how only six genuine examples are known to exist. And none of these would have been released for general circulation, but more for ceremonial reasons, sadly. He continued: 'If you somehow stumbled across one, you could be looking at hundreds of thousands of pounds at auction. The catch? Because they're so famous, there are far more fakes than real ones.' Meanwhile the expert warned so many replicas would have been struck over the years – so be sure to have your coin verified by a professional.
He continued: 'The 1933 penny is the crown jewel of British coin collecting – but sadly, finding one in your change is like winning the lottery... twice.' This special coin is known as the 1933 George V penny which experts believe holds an estimated value of £72,000. The reason it's incredibly rare is because there are very few of them around and weren't intended for circulation. It means they would never have been issued to the public. Some of these are 'uniface', that is they are single-sided, the opposite side remaining blank.
How to Spot Rare Coins in Your Change: Key Errors to Look For
- Identify the coin first: Check if the piece is rare by looking at the date.
- Scan for any errors or marks: Off-centre strikes, double-struck images, missing text or any mint marks can determine its value. Mint marks are tiny letters, and often not many error coins are produced which makes them sought-after.
- Check the mintage: This refers to the total number of coins produced with that specific design and date. Lower mintage figures means a higher likelihood of rarity.
- Verify and value: If you suspect your coin is rare and valuable, speak to a professional or visit an auction.
