Related Articles
The list from the Royal Mail was compiled in terms of how many coins were minted, with Queen Elizabeth II having appeared on more UK coins than any other British monarch
Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The Royal Mint has today revealed some of the rarest coins to enter circulation during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
Some of the most sought-after pieces include 50ps that celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, Kew Gardens and 50 years of Pride. Another coin to make the list was released to commemorate the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022 and was the longest reigning monarch in British history.
Her Majesty appeared on more UK coins than any other British monarch – with approximately 27 billion coins still in active circulation. The list from the Royal Mail was compiled in terms of how many coins were minted.
The coins with the fewest in circulation are letters W, Y and Z in the A to Z 10p collection, with each being minted just 63,000 times. The A to Z collection was released in 2018 and 2019 to celebrate all things British. There are 26 coins in the set to correspond with the 26 letters in the alphabet.
When we checked eBay today, the letter W coin (for World Wide Web) had recently sold for £7.77, while the Y coin (for Yeoman) fetched £14.50 and the Z coin (for zebra crossing) sold for £16. While these may be the rarest in terms of circulation, it is the Kew Gardens 50p that is considered the most valuable among collectors.
This coin was released in 2009 to mark 250 years since Kew Gardens opened in 1759, and there are 210,000 in circulation. The Coin Hunter website says this coin typically sells for between £150 and £161 – but we’ve seen an example where one circulated version recently exchanged hands for £300.
Mark Loveridge, Director of UK Currency at The Royal Mint said: “2022 marked one of the biggest changes in coinage since decimalisation as we moved from the reign of Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III. The coinage of Queen Elizabeth II spanned 70 years and special designs issued into circulation celebrated some of the biggest events in history.
“Although the 2022 mintage figures mark the last time that Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait will appear on new coins, over 27 billion of her coins will remain in circulation. Coin collecting remains a popular hobby in the UK and the coins of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign are particularly coveted. By sharing the list of rare designs we hope people will look closely at their coins – if they’re lucky they might find a piece of history.”
Royal Mail list of rarest coins
- A-Z 10p Coins (2019) (Letters Y, W and Z) – 63,000 minted (each)
- A-Z 10p Coins (2019) (Letter R) – 64,000 minted
- A-Z 10p Coins (2019) (All other letters minted in 2019) – 84,000 minted (each)
- UK EC Presidency 50p (1992/93) – 109,000 minted
- Kew Gardens 50p (2009) – 210,000 minted
- A-Z 10p Coins (2018) – 220,000 minted (each)
- First World War (Navy) £2 Coin (2015) – 650,000 minted
- Britannia £2 Coin (2015) – 650,000 minted
- Britannia 50p Uncirculated Coin (1985) – 682,103 minted
- Commonwealth Games £2 Coins (2002) – England: 650,500 minted, Scotland: 771,750 minted, Wales: 588,500 minted, Ireland: 485,500 minted
- Olympic London to Rio Handover Ceremony £2 (2012) – 845,000 minted
- London Olympic Games of 1908 £2 Coin (2008) – 910,000 minted
- Olympic Handover London Beijing £2 Coin (2008) – 918,000 minted
- King James Bible £2 Coin (2011) – 975,000 minted
- Beatrix Potter 50p Coins (2018) – Peter Rabbit: 1,400,000 minted, Flopsy Bunny: 1,400,000 minted
- London 2012 Olympic Games 50p Coins (2011) – Tennis: 1,454,000 minted, Goalball: 1,615,500 minted, Football (offside rule): 1,125,500 minted, Judo: 1,161,500 minted, Triathlon: 1,163,500 minted, Wrestling: 1,129,500 minted
- Capital Cities Badges £1 Coins (2010/11) – Edinburgh: 935,000 minted, London: 2,635,000 minted, Cardiff: 1,615,000 minted
- Royal Coat of Arms Round £1 Coin (2008) – 3,910,000 minted
