BRITS are being urged to check their change after a super-rare 2p coin sold for an nearly 40,000 times its value at an eye-watering £750 at auction.
The tiny copper piece turned heads when it was discovered to have a major minting error — and now experts reckon more could be in circulation.
TikTok coin expert Coin Collecting Wizard, real name Barry Graham, shared the find in a recent video and revealed what makes this penny so special.
The Royal Mint, the official maker of British coins, regularly puts limited edition pieces into general circulation.
The coin in question is the 1985 2p coin which has got a unique silver colour, instead of the usual bronze.
He said: “In the late 1990s, the owner reportedly noticed the coin looked unusual – it was silver instead of the usual bronze.”
Years later, after spotting a similar coin listed for auction in 2025, the owner contacted RWD Auctions.
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Specialists predicted it could fetch between £300 and £400 — but it stunned even seasoned auction staff when the final hammer came down at £750.
Barry added: “Testing has confirmed that the coin was mistakenly made from copper-nickel – the same metal used for 5ps and 10ps.”
It’s thought the mix-up happened during the minting process back in 1985, and collectors are now hunting for other rogue coins that may still be out there.
So if you’ve got any loose change lying around, give it a second look — one ordinary-looking 2p could be worth hundreds.
In February, a 2016 version of the 2p coin with the same error sold on eBay for £87.
If you think that you might have a rare coin then it’s worth checking with an expert to see if yours could sell for a hefty price tag.
The most valuable coins are usually those with a low mintage or an error.
These are often deemed the most valuable by collectors.
You can check how much the coin is selling for on eBay by searching the full name of the coin, selecting the "sold" listing and then toggling the search to "highest value".
It will give you an idea of the amount of money that the coin is going for.
But it's not always the case that a coin has sold for the amount is was listed for.
Coins are really only worth what someone else is willing to pay for them.
Sometimes, collectors are willing to pay more for a coin if they need it to complete a set.
One of the most popular types of coins to collect are 50p pieces.
This is because of their large surface area, as there is enough spaces to add new and intricate designs on.
With a 27.5mm diameter, it's the biggest British coin and is used to celebrate big occasions, anniversaries, and historical events.
Errors make a coin unique which means they will most likely be worth more, as there a fewer of them.
Even without a misprint, if a coin has a low mintage there are fewer of them in circulation and so are deemed rare.
As a general rule of thumb, the rarer the coin the more valuable they are to collectors.
You can sell a rare coin on eBay, Facebook, or at an auction.
If you're selling on Facebook, there are risks attached, though, so be careful.
Sellers have previously been targeted by scammers on Facebook pretending to need a courier to pick a coin up and asking for payment, but it's a ruse and the courier is never sent.
To avoid this happening, it's always best to meet a Facebook seller in-person when buying or selling anything.
Ensure it's a public meeting spot that's in a well-lit area and if you can, avoid using payment links.
Most sellers prefer to deal with cash directly when meeting to ensure it's legitimate.
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.
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