A coin specialist is urging people across the United Kingdom to scrutinise their loose change, as three specific coins could be worth a collective sum of up to £3,000. The advice, shared via social media, highlights how everyday pocket money might harbour hidden treasures, though with a significant caveat: for two of the coins, their maximum value hinges on them featuring unusual minting errors.
The £2 Mule Error: A Missing Denomination
The first coin identified by the expert, known as Coin Collector UK on TikTok, is a 2014 £2 piece commemorating the centenary of the First World War, which bears the famous portrait of Lord Kitchener. While the standard version is worth its face value, an extremely rare misprint makes it highly sought-after.
The specialist explained that the valuable error, known as a 'mule', occurs when the coin omits the words '£2' on its reverse side. "This is the error," he stated. "It's called a mule error and very few have been found. Collectors will pay hundreds for this coin at auction." It is estimated that a coin with this specific flaw could fetch around £800.
Olympic Treasures: The 2009 Athletics 50p
Next on the list is a distinctive 50p coin from the London 2012 Olympic series, depicting a child's drawing of a high jumper. Treasure hunters should specifically look for the 2009-dated version of this design, as later editions are far more common.
"The Olympic athletics from the Olympic series can be worth over £200," the expert noted. He emphasised that fewer than 20,000 of the 2009 coins were sold to the public. For a specimen in excellent condition, collectors are willing to pay up to £250. In contrast, the more widely circulated 2011 version is typically worth only its face value.
The £2,000 Aquatics Coin: Lines Over the Face
The most valuable item highlighted is another Olympic 50p coin, this time from the aquatics series featuring a swimmer. The 2011 edition of this coin can command a staggering £2,000 or more, but only if it displays a particular production flaw.
The rarity stems from the initial minting, where water lines erroneously cover the swimmer's face, a detail that was corrected in subsequent production runs. "The rare original one will have lines covering the face like those on the body," the collector clarified. "Very few of these were minted and they sell for crazy money because of this."
The overarching message from the specialist is clear: always examine any of these coins if you come across them. What might appear as ordinary change could potentially be a rare collectible error, transforming a few pounds from your pocket into a windfall worth hundreds or even thousands. The hunt for these numismatic rarities adds an exciting dimension to checking your change, proving that a small fortune might be lurking in the most mundane of places.
