It’s worth checking your change for one of these ultra-rare £2 coins, after one sold for a staggering £1,000 at auction. While it’s hard to imagine a life without the handy £2 coin nowadays, they’ve only been in general circulation since June 15, 1998, after the first bi-metallic £2 coin was minted in 1997.
Before this, the Royal Mint often made commemorative £2 coins, often from a single metal to mark special events. As a result, some of the newer £2 coins may be worth more than their elder counterparts.
But remember, a coin is only ever worth what someone else is willing to pay for it – and online marketplaces can distort the actual demand a coin has. Take, for example, the Kew Garden 50p, which recently went on eBay for a whopping £7,000 despite experts estimating its value between £100 and £200. So, here are the nine rarest £2 coins – as well as one specific coin you should thoroughly check.
Olympic Games Handover, 2008
With a mintage of just 918,000, this 2008 £2 coin, designed by Thomas T. Docherty, depicts the passing of the Olympic flag from hand to hand. Naturally, it marked London becoming the next city to host the sporting event following the games in Beijing. The inscription ‘I CALL UPON THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD’ is written along its edge.
Experts over at Check Your Change rank this coin 3/10 on their rarity scale, meaning it is ‘slightly harder to find, but not particularly expensive to source’. On eBay, these £2 coins are selling for around £12.99.
Olympic Games, 2008
Similar to the first coin mentioned, this £2 mintage anticipated the upcoming London 2012 Olympic Games, and commemorates the centenary of the 1908 London Olympic Games. It was also designed by Thomas T. Docherty and features a ‘dynamic illustration of a running track with the years 1908 and 2008 displayed within the outlines’.
This coin is slightly rarer, with a mintage of 910,000, but don’t expect to retire if you find one. Rare coin sellers Britannia Coin Company currently have the £2 on their website for £13 – meaning they’ll offer you even less to buy it.
Olympic Games Handover, 2012
With a mintage of 845,000, this £2 coin was created four years later to celebrate the transition of the Olympic Games from London to Rio de Janeiro. The design, created by Jonathan Olliffe, illustrates a baton being passed between two hands – with the Brazillian and UK flags swirling around each other. These are selling for around £10 on sites like eBay.
Marking the Commonwealth Games held in Manchester, this £2 coin includes designs representing the four countries of the UK. “The Scotland edition features an edge inscription that reads ‘SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP, MANCHESTER 2002’, whilst the reverse, created by artist and sculptor Matthew Bonaccorsi, shows a dynamic figure holding a banner aloft, symbolising celebration, victory and sportsmanship,” explains the Royal Mint.
With a mintage of 771,750 – this coin is much rarer than the Olympic versions. The Great British Coin Company are selling it for £19.99, while eBay listings are currently at a similar price.
Commonwealth Games, England 2002
Portraying a figure in motion holding a banner, this £2 coin also features Saint George’s Cross, encircled to the left. It has a lower mintage of 650,000 and is classed as the third-rarest coin in the 2002 Commonwealth Games collection. Still, you’ll be lucky to fetch more than £20 if you find this one in your wallet (which is still 10 times its original worth).
Britannia Fifth Portrait 2015
“Antony Dufort’s modern interpretation of Britannia is a piece of rich numismatic history and an iconic symbol of the nation,” states the Royal Mint. “Commonplace on British coinage for more than 300 years, Britannia made a triumphant return to British circulation in 2015, becoming one of the rarest £2 coins.”
This design, which has a mintage of 650,000, was the first to replace Bruce Rushin’s technology design – which had been featured on the coin since 1997. You can purchase the coin on eBay for as little as £8, although some sellers have hiked the price to a whopping £260.
WW1 Royal Navy Fifth Portrait 2015
To honour the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, this striking coin depicts HMS Royal Oak, a revenge-class battleship commissioned during the war. The words ‘THE SURE SHIELD OF BRITAIN’ are inscribed on the edge – to ’emphasise the resilience of the nation’.
Designed by military artist David Rowlands, this rare coin has a mintage of 650,000 and symbolises one of the most important events in UK history. Britannia Coin Company is currently selling a circulated version of the £2 coin for just £5.
Commonwealth Games, Wales 2002
With a mintage of 588,500 – this Welsh-celebrating coin looks almost identical to the English version – but naturally has the Welsh flag encircled. It is the second-rarest coin in the Commonwealth set and sells for around £20 online from sites such as Britannia Coin Company.
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Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland 2002
Classed as the rarest £2 in the UK, the Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland 2002 has an ultra-low mintage of 485,000. “Featuring the Ulster Banner alongside a victorious figure, the coin holds a special place in the hearts of collectors and sporting enthusiasts,” explains the Royal Mint. These coins will fetch significantly higher than other Commonwealth coins, selling on eBay for around £35.
Lord Kitchener First World War, 2014
With a mintage of 5,720,000 – this coin certainly isn’t rare. In fact, you can buy it online for £3.50, or will probably stumble across it at some point after a trip to the shops. The design features Lord Kitchener’s famous call to arms alongside the words ‘YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU’ and was released to mark the centenary of the First World War.
While this coin may seem of little value, a small error could mean it’s worth a fortune. Last year, a circulated version of the £2 which had been ‘struck with a variant obverse design’ fetched a staggering £1,000 at RWB Auctions. There are only a handful of ‘mule coins’ compared to the millions of ordinary Lord Kitchener’s £2s.
If you’re thinking of selling or buying a rare coin, you can read the Royal Mint’s guide to getting a fair price here.
Found a rare coin worth a fortune? Email liam.gilliver@reachplc.com for a chance to share your story
