A rare version of the coin could sell for more than £1,000 – but only if it has a certain minting error
Brits have been urged to check their change for a rare £2 coin worth far more than its face value. According to an expert, this piece could sell for more than £1,000 – but only if it has a certain error.
The coin in question is known as the Lord Kitchener £2 because it features the image of Lord Kitchener on its reverse (tail side). It was created in 2014 to mark 100 years since the First World War.
In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, an expert known as the Coin Collecting Wizard exaggerated, saying: “Retire today if you find this error on your £2 coin. Keep watching so you know what to look out for.
“This is the First World War Lord Kitchener coin from 2014.” He explained how to spot the sought after error. “On the correct version it says, ‘two pounds’ on the obverse [head side] like below,” he said.
“But if you have the rare version, it doesn’t say ‘two pounds’” like this one.” Essentially, in the error version the words “two pounds” are missing from the head side, below the image of Queen Elizabeth II.
He added: “Only a few of this error have ever been found and it has a value of over £1,000.” According to RWB Auctions, a version of this coin sold for £1,000 in February 2024.
In the same video, the expert shared another £2 coin to look out for. He advised that an error version of the 2016 Shakespeare tragedy coin could be worth £40.
He continued: “There are other £2 coins with errors, keep watching. If you find this £2 coin, check it for a rare error worth, 20 times its face value.
“This is the Shakespeare tragedy £2 coin from 2016 and some were minted with the wrong edge inscription.” Some of these coins were incorrectly struck with an incorrect inscription along the outer edge.
The intended quote is “what a piece of work is a man”, however, the error version display “for king and country” instead. He said: “The edge inscription on this coin should read ‘what a piece of work as a man’, but some coins have the inscription ‘for King and Country’.
“That was used for a different £2 coin, check the edge of your Shakespeare coin. If it says ‘for King and Country’, it is the error coin that is worth 20 times its face value, don’t forget it.”
In May 2024, a version of this coin sold at auction for £123.
