Unfortunately for all those who have contacted us asking whether their stack of 2p coins dating from 1971 to 1981 are worth hundreds of pounds, the answer is no. The Royal Mint explains: ‘To avoid confusion between the old and new coinage all three coins had the word ‘NEW’ incorporated into the reverse design.
How much is a new penny from 1971 worth?
A more common find is the 1971 ‘new penny’. These coins are from the first run after decimalisation was introduced, when Britain switched its standard to 100 pennies in the pound. A 1971 penny could fetch a premium, with one recently selling for £5.99 on eBay.
Why is the 1971 New Penny so valuable?
An incredible 1,521,666,250 “New” 1p coins were struck in 1971 as Britain moved to a decimal currency. The original design – with “New Penny” on the back and the Arnold Machin portrait of the Queen on the front – was used unchanged for 10 years, but it’s the original 1971 coins that are worth the money.
What makes a 1971 2p coin so rare?
A person can ASK whatever he wants on Ebay, but what they actually SELL for is the believabilty factor. While 2p coins are not uncommon, what makes this specific coin popular is the unique wording on it. Rather than “two pence”, the coin says “new pence” on it – as all coins produced between 1971 and 1981 did.
Are there any 2p coins that are worth anything?
Royal Mint officially recognises this 2p as an error coin, making it very valuable to collectors. All 2p coins struck between 1971 and 1981 had the words “new pence” on the reverse side of the coin, according to the Royal Mint.
When did the UK 2p coin come out?
“The United Kingdom 2p coin was introduced on 15 February 1971 with the creation of a new decimal currency system. “The other two coins issued at this time were the 1/2p and 1p coins. Offer the coin to the ebayer who listed it for 4958.47 pounds . See what he will pay you for your coin .
What’s the value of an error 2p coin?
The Royal Mint hasn’t officially recognised them as an error coin yet but they are sought after by collectors. This error silver 2p coin from 2001 has a more matte finish than some other rare copper-less two pence pieces on this list. That might be why it attracted eight bids from collectors, who pushed the price up to £7.05 in a recent sale.
