Rare 1p and 2p Coins
Often referred to as ‘coppers’, discover some of the rarest 1p and 2p coins produced in Royal Mint history, each with its own story to tell.
The 1875 ‘H Penny’
In 1875, a limited number of pennies were struck at the Heaton Mint in Birmingham. Identified by the small ‘H’ mint mark, these coins are now highly sought after by collectors due to their relatively low mintage.
The 1933 Penny
In 1933, no new pennies were needed, but a small number were struck for coin sets placed beneath foundation stones of new buildings and for museum records as was customary. It’s believed only six or seven were made, making the 1933 penny one of Britain’s rarest coins. As they were struck to circulation standard many hoped one might enter everyday change, sparking years of searching. Of the three foundation-stone sets, one was stolen in 1970, one was removed and sold and the third is thought to remain in place.
2018 - 2019 1p Coins
In 2018 and 2019, no one pence coins were issued for circulation due to a lack of demand. However, a number were still struck to Brilliant Uncirculated standard for our annual definitive sets. As this is the only way collectors could get their hands on these coins, they can be considered rare due to their date.
The 2023 King Charles III 1p
In 2023, the first coins of His Majesty King Charles III’s reign entered circulation. The eight designs represent endangered flora and fauna native to the British Isles, with the dormouse appearing on the reverse of the 1p. With a relatively low mintage of just 600,000 and a brand-new design, it has quickly become one of the more sought after modern 1p coins.
The 1983 ‘NEW PENCE’ 2p Coin
All 2p coins struck between 1971 and 1981 featured the words ‘NEW PENCE’ on the reverse, chosen to help people adjust to decimalisation from the old 240 pennies in a pound to "new pence" of 100 in a pound. From 1982 onwards, the inscription was changed to ‘TWO PENCE’, however, in 1983 a small number of coins were mistakenly struck with the original ‘NEW PENCE’ wording. Because so few entered circulation, these error coins have become highly sought after by collectors.
