Rare 1p coin worth £300 and there’s one small detail to look out for

A coin expert has advised people to keep an eye out for a rare UK penny that could fetch more than £300. The valuable coin must bear a “very small” initial on one side.

The Coin Collecting Wizard, a collector who shares his knowledge on TikTok, explained what to look for. He pointed out that a penny coin from 1881 is worth seeking out.

He stated: “We have a much older penny – the 1881 H penny.” This coin features Queen Victoria on the obverse side (the head side).

On the reverse side (the tail side) is an image of Britannia as a woman holding a trident. However, it’s crucial to check for a tiny “H” initial.

This can be found on the reverse side of the coin, below the date. The expert elaborated: “The H can be found just below the date of 1881.

“As you can see, the H mint mark, which stands for Heaton Mint, is very small so look closely. The obverse shows the young head of Queen Victoria, or also known as ‘bunhead’.”

Despite millions of these coins being produced, they are now “very hard to find”. He added: “Around three million coins were produced in 1881 at the Heaton Mint but because the coin is so old it is very hard to find today.

“You will also notice that coins in the 1800s have a slightly different design to the more recent pennies from the 1900s.” The collector concluded by saying: “If you’re fortunate enough to possess this penny in an uncirculated version, it could easily sell for over £300. “

Experts at All Coin Values have endorsed his advice, highlighting that a 1881 Heaton mint British penny could be worth more than £310 in top-notch condition. They explained: “The retail value of a 1881 Heaton mint British penny can range from £3 to over £310 depending on grade, condition, desirability, and demand.”

They further described the coin’s design: “The 1881 United Kingdom penny reverse shows the helmed Britannia seated facing right, holding a trident, hand resting on a shield, with a lighthouse to the left, and ship to the right. The words ‘ONE’ and ‘PENNY’ are to the sides, with the date below.