DID you know there could be hidden treasure worth HUNDREDS in your wallet or lying around your home?
If you have a rare coin in your spare change, you could be unknowingly sitting on a small fortune. These coins are worth FAR more than their face value and collectors will pay a mint to buy them for their collection.
Rare coins can include those which are limited edition designs and therefore have a low mintage), or those that have a design error on them.
These are not only scarce, but are often highly sought after by collectors – sparking fierce bidding wars for them on sites like eBay.
But how can YOU spot the telltale signs that you’ve got a golden nugget in your pocket? We explain everything you need to know.
What makes a coin rare?
Coins are usually classed as rare if a low number was minted – meaning how many were produced – or an error occurred during the manufacturing process.
For example, the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p is valuable as only 210,000 were minted.
An “error” coin is produced when something goes wrong during the manufacturing process and the coin is struck incorrectly. This doesn’t happen often, making these coins particularly valuable.
The “Undated 20p coin” is an iconic error coin, produced in November 2008 when a number of coins were incorrectly minted and stamped without a date.
Coins are not only coveted by collectors because of their limited supply, but also their design.
For example, the Great British Coin Hunt Z 10p is distinctive because it celebrates James Callaghan’s iconic black and white pedestrian crossing.
Coins that have some form of cultural significance, such as those created for a special event or anniversary like the Olympic Games or Commonwealth Games, are also highly sought after.
How to hunt for rare coins
To be successful in your treasure hunt, you don’t just need to be a ruthless scavenger – you need to make sure you know exactly what you’re looking for.
Start in the obvious places, like rummaging through the change in your wallet or in drawers in your home. You could also ask your family and friends for any old coins they’re willing to give you.
Search more forensically around your home, like down the sofa, in the attic, or in the garage.
Car boot sales or other local sales can be another good way of finding hidden gems – and sellers may not be aware of their high value when flogging them for a cheap price.
Rummaging in junk bins in antique stores could also fetch some hidden treasures.
If you’re heading to a seaside amusement arcade, why not try your luck on the popular coin pusher games? They handle huge volumes of change from all over the country, meaning they could be a treasure trove for scarcer coins.
If you want to get really serious about finding rare coins, you could even buy a metal detector, and look into parks or other public areas where people might have dropped their change.
If you find a coin that you think might be rare, you can verify it using apps such as Coinoscope or Coin Value Checker.
These apps can identify a coin from an image and then provide you with a market value.
You should then check if your coin is Brilliant Uncirculated quality from an official Royal Mint distributor.
This means they are more collectable and have been specially struck to a superior unblemished quality, which sets them apart from normal coins.
If you find that your coin is valuable, you keep it in the best condition possible.
Store your coins individually in a clear, airtight holder that lets you see them from both sides.
The containers you put them in should not be kept in a damp environment and should only be accessed with clear, white gloves.
It is important not to put them in clear plastic bags as they could still rub against each other and may cause scratches or marks.
Which coins are the rarest?
While different iterations of coins are rare, some are far more sought after than others.
These are the rarest coins right now, according to coin experts Change Checker:
2023 Salmon 50p
The rarest 50p coin to be found right now, according to coin experts Change Checker, is the 2023 Salmon 50p, which has a tiny mintage of just 200,000.
These can sell for over £80 on sites like eBay.
2009 Kew Gardens 50p
The 2009 Kew Gardens 50p is the second rarest 50p coin, which is one of the most sought after coins ever.
It often sells for over £100, and has previously sold for more than £200 to collectors.
It’s followed by the Football 50p, the Wrestling 50p, and the Judo 50p.
2002 Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games £2
If you stumble upon an unusual looking £2 coin, the rarest one is currently the 2002 Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games £2.
It is rare and valuable due to its low mintage of only 485,500, and has listed for as much as £60 on eBay.
2002 England Commonwealth Games £2
The Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games £2 coin is closely followed by the England, Scotland, and Wales Commonwealth Games £2 coins.
The England coin had a low mintage of around 650,000, and can fetch over £35.
2025 King Charles III Bee £1
£1 coins fetch slightly less money than 50p and £2 ones.
The rarest £1 coin in active circulation right now is the King Charles III Bee 2025.
With just 170,000 minted, it features a bee symbolising community and fetches up to £16.12 due to its scarcity.
How do I make money from my rare coins ?
IF YOU think you have a coin of value and its in good condition their are many ways you can sell it.
You should decide whether you want to sell your coin at an auction or an online resell site, such as eBay.
To sell at an auction, you can contact The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service, which has a team of experts that will help authenticate and value your coin.
They can be reached by email, which can be found on the Royal Mint’s Website, and a member of the valuation team will contact and get back to you.
In the email, you should remember to attach a picture of the coin so they can give you the most accurate valuation.
If they think its valuable you can then take your coin to an auction house and see how much you can get for it.
However, getting your coins authenticated and valued does with a fee attached to it – £20 per coin according to the Coin Hunter Website.
If you want a free service, you can refer to Change Checker’s scarcity index to see which coins are the most rare at that time.
If you want to sell your coin on an online marketplace such as eBay, it’s important to do your research and understand how much you can get for the coin.
This is because anyone can list a coin on eBay and charge whatever they want.
Check what other sellers have listed the same item for and what it eventually sold for, to gauge what price you should list at.
To do this, search for your item, filter by “sold listings” and toggle by the highest value.
You should check these prices regularly to see what coins are rising in value and which ones aren’t.
You should also be wary of fakes online – and keep in mind that just because someone puts in a bid, it does not mean they will make the purchase as buyers can pull out right up to the last minute.
