Royal Mint: Coin company confirms five rarest coins in 2025

The coins, which include 50ps, £2s and even a £5, could be worth thousands if you find one, according to Kimberly Day at The Britannia Coin Company.

Based on Royal Wootton Bassett’s High Street opposite sister companies Old Bank Antiques and RWB Auctions, the coin company often sees coins found in regular people’s pockets or hidden in draws which go on to sell for a small fortune.

So here are the ones you don’t want to miss this year.

Five rare coins to look out for in 2025

2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p

Worth over £100 (Image: Kimberly Day) In 2023, the Royal Mint unveiled new designs for the ‘tails’ side of UK coins inspired by King Charles III’s passion for nature and conservation.

But in 2024, the Mint revealed that only 200,000 of these 50ps coins were released in 2023.

That makes the 2023 Salmon 50ps the rarest circulating 50p coin.

“Prices for Atlantic Salmon 50ps remain high in 2025 with examples selling for more than £100,” said coin expert Kimberly Day.

“It is just the 2023-dated Salmon 50p coins we know to be rare, though. 2024 and 2025 examples are more common, as far as we know.”

Lord Kitchener Mule Error £2

Worth as much as £1,200 (Image: Kimberly Day) The Royal Mint has released 5,720,000 standard Lord Kitchener £2s into circulation, but a few have been found that are missing the words ‘two pounds’ on the head side.

Experts call mistake coins like these ‘mule coins’.

“The team at The Royal Mint rarely makes mistakes, and it’s even more unusual for coins like these to be found in our change,” said Day.

Authentic examples of the error Lord Kitchener £2 can be worth as much as £1,200.

Error Edge Shakespeare £2

Worth over £100 (Image: Kimberly Day) Another error coin that hit the headlines last year was a 2016 Shakespeare’s Tragedies £2, which sold at RWB Auctions in Wiltshire for £123.

Ordinary examples sell online for around £5, but the rare example that sold in May 2024 featured the words ‘For King and country’ on the edge instead of the common ‘What a piece of work is man.’

“Most people don’t look at the edge of their coins, but it’s worth checking,” commented Day.

“We know of a few different UK coins with edge errors, including the Shakespeare £2, and there are undoubtedly more out there that haven’t yet been found.”

1989 Claim Of Right £2

The ‘rarest £2 coin around’ (Image: Kimberly Day) Britannia Coin Company advises collectors to check old money boxes and charity shops for coins that may not be in circulation any more.

The 1989 Claim of Right £2 was made to celebrate 300 years since the Declaration of Rights and both English and Scottish versions exist.

It’s the Scots version which reads ‘Tercentenary of the claim of right’ that is rare, with only 381,400 issued.

“Technically, the 1989 Claim of Right coin is the rarest £2 around, so you should make sure you know how to recognise it,” said Day.

2025 Queen Mother £5 Coin

Only available in collector sets (Image: Kimberly Day) Some rare coins never enter circulation at all and can only be found in collector sets.

This is the case for the new £5 coin, celebrating the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

The most affordable 2025 UK annual coin sets from The Royal Mint retail for £75 with premium gold and silver editions also available.