SPOTTING this rare coin in your change could be a big money-spinner – it could be worth nearly thirty times worth its original £2 value.
If you discover a sought-after coin in your change, you can make money on it by selling it on.
You could do this through an auction, either online, in person, or through a dealer.
There are some coins which are known to fetch large sums of cash, such as the Kew Gardens 50p and the commemorative 50p coins minted to mark the London 2012 games.
But there are also lesser-known designs that are worth keeping an eye out for – like the 2020 Captain Cook-themed £2 coin.
These were issued back in 2020 to mark the 250th anniversary of Brit explorer Captain James Cook’s famous Voyage of Discovery.
The Royal Mint announced in 2018 that they’d release a unique three part £2 series – and they weren’t circulated to the general public, making them an extra coveted find.
This is the third and final £2 in the series and the distinctive reverse, designed by lettering artist Gary Breeze, features part of Captain Cook’s famous ship.
Once all three coins in the series are collected, you can arrange them together to reveal the full design.
Captain James Cook underwent three famous voyages responsible for finding major lands such as New Zealand and Hawaii.
He inspired many explorers and astronomers and this coin honours the first of these voyages.
You’re in luck – Ebay has been flogging the rare £2 edition coin on its website.
What are the most rare and valuable coins?
They’ve gone for as much as £57 and as little as £36.
How to check if a coin is rare
In most cases, a coin is rare if it has a low mintage figure – which is set by The Royal Mint.
The mintage figure relates to how many of the coins were made, so the fewer there are of them, the rarer they are.
You can find out what coins are rare and how they look on The Royal Mint’s website.
Your next step after this is seeing if the same coin is still available to buy in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality from an official Royal Mint distributor, according to Change Checker.
These coins have been specially made to a superior quality which differentiates them from other coins you might find in your pocket.
How to sell a rare coin
If, after checking, you realise you’ve come across a rare coin, there’s a number of ways you can sell it.
You can sell it on eBay, through Facebook, or in an auction – but be wary of the risks.
The safest way to sell a rare coin is more than likely at auction. You can organise this with The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service.