🧐 Got a 1983 “NEW PENCE” 2p Coin? It Could Be Worth £1000+ 🪙
Most 2p coins from 1983 say “Two Pence” on them…
But a rare few were accidentally struck with the older wording “New Pence” – a minting error that collectors are willing to pay hundreds of pounds for!
What to check:
2p coin dated 1983 It must say “NEW PENCE” (not “TWO PENCE”)
These have sold for £1000 or more at auction, but beware of fakes – and make sure it’s not just an earlier date (1971–1981 had “New Pence” normally).
Check your coin jars and let me know if you’ve ever come across one!
Do you have a jar full of spare change? A forgotten wallet from a past holiday? You might be sitting on a small fortune without even knowing it. Among the most sought-after coins in British numismatics is a coin that, at first glance, looks like any other two-pence piece—but a tiny detail on its reverse side can make it worth over £1000. This is the elusive and highly valuable 1983 “NEW PENCE” 2p coin.
The story behind this coin’s immense value is a classic tale of a minting error that created an extraordinary rarity. The United Kingdom decimalised its currency in 1971, and for the next decade, all 2p coins were inscribed with the words “NEW PENCE” to help the public get used to the new system. In 1982, the Royal Mint decided to update the inscription to its current form, “TWO PENCE.” From that year on, all new 2p coins should have carried the new “TWO PENCE” legend.
However, a small and significant mistake occurred the following year. A limited number of 2p coins minted in 1983 were accidentally struck using the old “NEW PENCE” dies, instead of the new “TWO PENCE” dies. These coins were never intended for general circulation and were primarily issued in special, expensive proof sets for collectors. However, it’s believed that a few of these error coins may have been mistakenly released into the wild. Because the majority of 1983 2p coins correctly state “TWO PENCE,” finding one with the old “NEW PENCE” inscription is exceptionally rare.
So, how can you tell if you have one? It’s a simple, two-step process. First, find a 2p coin with the year “1983” stamped on the front. Second, and this is the crucial part, flip it over and look closely at the reverse side, below the Prince of Wales’s feathers. If it reads “NEW PENCE,” you’ve struck gold! If it says “TWO PENCE,” it’s a standard coin of no additional value. The rarity of the “NEW PENCE” variety is what drives its value.
The value of this unique coin can vary based on its condition. A coin that has been well-circulated and shows signs of wear will be worth less than one in a pristine, uncirculated state. However, even a worn example can fetch a significant amount, with prices for these error coins easily starting in the hundreds of pounds and climbing well above the £1000 mark for a high-quality specimen.
The 1983 “NEW PENCE” 2p is a fantastic reminder that treasures can often be found in the most unexpected places. It highlights the fascinating world of numismatics, where a small mistake can transform an otherwise ordinary coin into a valuable piece of history. So go ahead, empty your change jar, check your pockets, and start looking. You never know—you might just find a small, copper coin that changes everything.
