UK households have been advised to check their lofts to see if they can earn thousands of pounds, as a box of old medals, coins or stamps tucked away could be worth a small fortune, according to new insurance data.
A routine clear-out could turn into an unexpectedly valuable find, based on findings from nearly 19,000 specified-item records from Intelligent Insurance home insurance policies covering 2024 to 2026 to date. The data revealed that medal and coin collections are worth the most at over £8,000 per average collection.
Why collections are often overlooked
Unlike a watch or ring, a medal, coin or stamp collection may have been assembled piece by piece over decades, with no single item looking especially valuable on its own. They are also exactly the collections most likely to turn up unexpectedly, such as during a house clearance, a move to a smaller home, or while sorting through a relative's belongings.
A Penny Black stamp, Britain's first postage stamp, is a good example: most used examples are worth £20 to £300 depending on condition, though rare unused ones have sold for thousands. Even the most average coin collections can hold some gems, such as a King George V gold sovereign. Though not especially rare, they are currently worth roughly £750 to £800 in gold content alone, with rarer dates worth considerably more.
Expert advice on valuations
Alex Parker-Walklate, Chief Insurance Officer at Intelligent Insurance, said: "Jewellery and watches are what most people instinctively think of when they picture valuable possessions, so these figures challenge that assumption."
He added: "Collections can be built up quietly over years or inherited from someone else, which makes them much easier to underestimate when you first come across them, but even just a few stamps could be worth far more than you expect."
Part of the reason is generational. Medals, coins and stamps were once common family hobbies, built up over a lifetime and passed down, but far fewer people actively collect them today, which makes it easier to lose track of what's already sitting in a loft or a drawer.
Practical tips for forgotten collections
Mr Parker-Walklate added: "If you find a collection and are unsure what it is worth, get it properly valued before you sell it, donate it or throw anything away. If it turns out to be valuable, make sure it is specified on your policy rather than assuming it automatically sits within your general contents cover."
For anyone clearing a loft or going through old belongings: do not assume the obvious valuables are the only ones worth checking. The box that looks easiest to clear out may be the one worth valuing first.
Quick tips for checking a forgotten collection
- Look up recent sale prices for similar items to get a rough sense of value before doing anything else.
- Many auction houses and specialist valuers offer a free initial check, which is worth using before insuring, selling, donating, or throwing anything away.
- If it turns out to be valuable, list it as a specified item on your home insurance. General contents cover may not apply, and this gives you a helpful, specific record that can help should the item become lost or damaged.
- Hang onto any provenance such as letters, receipts, or family history as it can meaningfully affect value.
