A leading TikTok coin expert has advised followers to check their change for a rare £2 coin that could be worth a huge amount.
On Wednesday (November 13), TikTok user @TheCoinCollectorUK posted a video captioned: “On the hunt for the Lord Kitchener error.” The video shows the coin collector searching through a bag of £2 coins that he explains in the comments that he got from a local bank.
The Royal Mint produced 5,720,000 £2 coins featuring Lord Kitchener – the former British Secretary of State for War – to mark the 100th anniversary of World War I.
The reverse side of the coin is based on the iconic “Lord Kitchener Wants You” poster, which shows him pointing at the viewer with the words “YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU” underneath.
The Lord Kitchener error coin is a rare £2 coin minted in 2014 that is missing the phrase “two pounds” on the obverse side. This sort of issue is called a “mule” error, which occurs when the wrong dies are used during the minting process.
It’s considered to be one of the rarest documented error coins in circulation. In February 2024, one was sold off in Wiltshire through RWB Auctions with hopes it would go for over £1200.
Although it didn’t go for quite that much, This Is Money reports that it did sell for £1000 – still a very impressive amount.
The Coin Collector didn’t find a Lord Kitchener error £2 in his haul, but he did find two unusual coins: a Gunpowder Plot £2 and a Trinity House £2.
The Gunpowder Plot £2 coin was minted in 2005 and marks the 400th anniversary of Guy Fawkes’ failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The edge inscription reads: “REMEMBER REMEMBER FIFTH OF NOVEMBER.”
However, though its an interesting design, it is not considered very rare. Coin website Change Checker gives it a scarcity rating of 5, meaning it is quite common and not worth a great deal more than its £2 face value.
The Trinity House £2 commemorates the 500th anniversary creation of Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar, which was tasked with keeping Britain’s naval forces safe.
The reverse design featuring a depiction of a lighthouse lens. Change Checker gives it a scarcity rating of 13, meaning “less common”.
A “normal” Trinity House £2 isn’t worth a great deal more than its £2 face value either – they tend to sell for around £3.50 – although if you find one with minting errors it can push up the price.
The errors are:
- The writing around the edge of the coin is upside down in relation to the Queen’s head
- The dots around the Queen’s head are not aligned, and some dots are missing
One with multiple minting errors is currently listed for sale on eBay for £900.
However, with a confirmed sale at auction of £1000, it seems that the Lord Kitchener error £2 is certainly well worth looking for, so remember to check your change for a pointing man with a big moustache.
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