Turning spare change into serious cash: The most valuable coins you might own

30 August 2024 3 min read

Contents

With over three million new King Charles coins entering circulation this year, now could be the perfect opportunity to check your collection for any vintage coins that could be worth a fortune.

Whether you’re an avid coin collector or just lucky to have been given a priceless coin throughout the years, you could be in for a surprise at its worth. With the announcement of His Majesty’s new coins, collectors and fans alike could end up being a part of history.

But is it time to check your coin stash and see what it could be worth?

UK Debt Expert looked at eBay purchasing trends to find out just how much vintage coins in Britain have been sold for recently, and revealed which ones hold the most value.

If you own any of the coin designs from the list below, you could be swapping a standard 50p into serious cash.

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The most valuable coins on the market

Notes / CoinsTypeYearPrice (£)
50pPeace Prosperity and Friendship with all Nations2020£63,000
50pQueen Elizabeth II design2006£55,000
£2WW1 design2016£50,000
£21807 Abolition of slavery designn/a£40,000
50pPeace Prosperity and Friendship with all Nations2020£25,550
£21807 Abolition of Slaveryn/a£25,000
50pPeace Prosperity and Friendship with all Nations2020£10,000
One pennyStandard penny design1971£7,500
£2Commonwealth Games Queen Elizabeth1986£6,100
£5 coinElizabeth II Golden Jubilee2002£5,000
£5 noteKing Charles design2024£2,800
£5 coinPrince Philip Gold Coin£2,675
£5 coinQueen Elizabeth II gold coin2002£2,600
£5 coinQueen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee2002£2,400
£5 noteKing Charles design2024£2,000
£5 coinDuke And Duchess of Cambridge 10th Wedding Anniversary designn/a£1,750
£20King Charles III design2024£1,500
£50Queen Elizabeth II design1952/2022£1,000
£20King Charles designn/a£1,000

Which type of coin is worth the most?

As the new coins get rolled out across post offices and banks, collectors could be willing to pay up to £63,000 for some coins, according to recently sold eBay data.

The 2020 Brexit ‘peace, prosperity, friendship with all nations’ 50p coin is the most in demand. The coin recently sold for over £60,000 and again for £25,500 – the lowest minimum price being £10,000.

The limited commemorative design recognises the UK’s departure from the European Union, serving as a historic memento of a significant moment in history. Brexit was a major political and social event, and the 50p aimed to serve as a physical reminder of the UK’s decision to leave, becoming sought after by collectors.

Owners of £2 coins with the ‘1807 Abolition of Slavery’ design could be looking anywhere from £25,000 to £40,000.

King Charles £5 coin designs are slowly becoming more lucrative, with a starting price of £2,000, and as his reign lengthens, this may only increase in value.

Turning your wallet into a financial goal

If you’re lucky enough to own one of the designated coins, it could be worth getting it valued.

Check similar items recently sold online for an idea of how much you could be sitting on, and make sure to mention any specific designs, such as a historic moment or special editions. When selling, ensure to include any authentication you have and a full description of the item.

Rising costs and household bills may incentivise you to build extra cash and help to ease cash flow worries, and could even act as a method to tackle debts that may be on your radar. If in doubt about any money problems, it’s always good to seek out professional advice, as selling second-hand items may only be a temporary solution.

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Methodology

UK Debt Expert looked at eBay purchase data for ‘vintage’ sold UK coins and notes.

Using this method, a dataset was compiled with the top 20 most expensive coins to uncover the most valuable types of money

Data correct as of August 2024.

Maxine McCreadie

Maxine McCreadie

Author/Debt Expert

Maxine McCreadie, prominent personal finance writer featured in Vogue and Yahoo News, delivers practical guidance, simplifying money management and championing financial literacy.

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