New 50p entrants and other BIG movers! Your Scarcity Index Update…

It’s time for your latest Scarcity Index update, where we reveal the UK’s most sought-after circulation coins of the last three months! As we continue to go out and spend more cash, we’ve seen some BIG movers and shakers on our Scarcity Index.

There’s been some HUGE shakeups on our A-Z 10p Index, as well as two new additions to our 50p Index.

You can use the updated A-Z 10p, 50p and £2 indexes below to discover how sought-after the coins in your collection really are.

This information has been compiled using data from the Change Checker Swap Centre and presented in the easy to use indexes below, with arrows to signify how many places up or down a coin has moved since the last Scarcity Index.

A-Z 10p Scarcity Index

In the biggest shake up we’ve ever seen on our Scarcity Indexes, the Lochness Monster 10p has climbed an incredible 17 places! Having also been bumped down the A-Z 10p Index by 17 places, the Mackintosh 10p is now in our bottom 4!

Our top two coins have also switched positions, with the Robin 10p now holding top spot. Only 64,000 of these coins entered circulation in 2019, so combined with its 2018 mintage of just 220,000 it makes it is the 4th rarest A-Z 10p coin!

Regardless of where they feature in the above index, if you have any of the A-Z 10ps in your collection you should consider yourself very lucky. A maximum of only 304,000 of each design entered circulation!

Find out which A-Z 10p coins have the lowest mintages here >>

Other key movers include the Jubilee 10p and Stonehenge 10p, having both climbed 14 places – these are definitely the ones to watch!

50p Scarcity Index

Earlier this year we received the updated figures for 2020 circulation coins, including the UK Withdrawal from European Union (Brexit) 50p and the Diversity Built Britain 50p.

This updates sees the two 2020 50p coins make their entrance towards the bottom of our 50p Scarcity Index. The rarest of the trio to be released is the Withdrawal from the EU 50p, commonly known as the Brexit 50p, with a circulating mintage of 10,001,000. This is closely followed by the Diversity Built Britain 50p with a mintage of 10,300,000.

These numbers are fairly high for commemorative coins, meaning collectors stand a good chance of finding these ones in their change!

The Olympic Rowing and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle 50p coins have both climbed 10 places each, shifting them further up our 50p Index and making them even more sought-after. This Scarcity Index Update also sees the Olympic Sailing and Gymnastics 50ps dropping 10 and 12 places respectfully.

With lots of big movers and shakers on our 50p Index, it’s a reminder to keep checking your change as you never know what treasure you’ll discover…

£2 Scarcity Index

Sadly, with no £2 coins having entered circulation since 2017, there’s no surprises there’s not a huge amount of movement on our £2 Index.

However, we’ve seen the Commonwealth Games Wales £2 be bumped down the index by a further four places, after dropping by 3 in the last update too! This has created quite some distance between this coin and the other three Commonwealth Games £2 coins

We’ve also seen the Shakespeare Histories £2 coin climb by an impressive nine places, with the Brunel Paddington Station dropping seven.

How your Scarcity Index works

Generally collectors have had to rely upon mintage figures to identify the scarcest coins.  But they only tell part of the story.  Trying to find a good quality coin from 15 – 20 years ago, even for a higher mintage issue, is much more challenging than a more recent issue, as coins become damaged over time and are ultimately removed from circulation.

Additionally, some designs are more hoarded than others by people who might not normally collect coins – the poignant First World War £2 Coin series being an example. Finally, it can be up to a couple of years before the Royal Mint eventually confirms the actual mintage for an issue.

That’s why we have combined the mintage information with two other key pieces of information.

  • How many of each design are listed as “collected” by Change Checkers, indicating the relative ease of finding a particular coin.
  • The number of times a design has been requested as a swap over the previous 3 months, showing the current level of collector demand.

Importantly, as new coins are released and popularity rises and falls across different designs the Scarcity Index will be updated quarterly allowing Change Checkers to track the relative performance of the UK’s circulation coins.

How much are my coins worth?

The Scarcity Index does not necessarily equate to value but it is certainly an effective indicator.  For example, the Kew Gardens 50p coin commands a premium of up to 200 times face value on eBay.

You can use the 6 point guide to help you determine a more realistic value for your coins.

What about £1 Coins?

The £1 Scarcity Index has already been published for the Round £1 coins and, because they are no longer being issued, this is now set in stone.

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Don’t miss your chance to get ahead of the crowd and be one of the very first collectors to receive the latest UK new issue coins as soon as possible after their release.

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26 Comments

  1. Rob Halliday on December 9, 2021 at 4:36 pm

    Hi, I’ve just been checking some 50 pence pieces I have and found one from 2011 with what looks like a high jumper on it. Is it quite common as it wasn’t listed on the scarcity table? Thanks, Rob.



    • Alexandra on December 14, 2021 at 11:31 am

      Hi Rob,

      That’s the London Olympic Athletics coin – it’s one of the rarer olympic coins so features quite high up on our Scarcity Index 🙂

      Thanks,
      Alex



  2. Les Kent on December 6, 2021 at 2:32 pm

    Hi Alexandra
    I have a near complete collection for sale from the 1969 plastic wallet through to the 2021 set ALL BU sets and packs, every PROOF set up to 2015 plus every BU 50p which includes the exstreamly rare 2009 proof 50p set together with the rare AQAUTICS with the lines across the face and the BLUE PETER both sets of AtoZ 10 ps, I could go on and on but apart from the 2p new p and about 15 X £5 coins its has a complete set of the Olympics but they are good circulated and NOT BU, these are all genuine and every coin you could want in a collection.



    • Alexandra on December 7, 2021 at 5:00 pm

      Wow! Les, it sounds like you have a very enviable collection! Some very impressive coins indeed 🙂



  3. Dan on November 21, 2021 at 12:05 am

    Is it possible to add extra tabs for the different coins like the a-z 10p coins as they were made in 2018 and 2019



    • Alexandra Siddons on November 22, 2021 at 4:56 pm

      Hi Dan,

      As the Scarcity Index uses data from our Change Checker web app, this would be an update we’d need to make on that platform. That being said, we’re currently in the process of updating our Web App and this feedback will be considered in the upcoming changes we make.

      Thanks,
      Alex



  4. Jonathan Case on November 19, 2021 at 9:27 pm

    I had a double headed 2p what would the value be ?



  5. F.Tamplin on November 15, 2021 at 2:41 pm

    I have 2 2014 2p coins that have Extension to the queen hair and make it look like a horn.
    Royal mint verified these and stated it was due to a cracked die .Are they unique as I have
    Never seen anymore.



    • Alexandra Siddons on November 22, 2021 at 4:54 pm

      Hi there,

      We’ve never heard of a coin with this feature and if The Royal Mint have confirmed it’s due to a cracked die – it sounds like you’ve got a great addition to your collection 🙂

      Thanks,
      Alex



  6. Graham Shelton on November 14, 2021 at 9:19 am

    Good morning, I have a 1971 SILVER 2NEW PENCE COIN,I have been told its a Royal Mint Error & is Rare ?. Any Avice Please.



    • Alexandra Siddons on November 15, 2021 at 1:28 pm

      Hi Graham,

      How exciting if you do have this coin in your collection! For verification on a coin’s error or rare status, please contact the Royal Mint Museum who will be able to assist further. We’d love to hear back from you once you’ve received confirmation! 🙂

      Thanks,
      Alex



  7. Susan Abercrombie on November 14, 2021 at 8:33 am

    I have two 50p ,Paddington at the tower of London and diversity built Britain I’m looking to sell ,how do I go about selling them please,thanks



  8. Kathy on November 14, 2021 at 7:15 am

    I want to sell my brexit 50p
    How do I do that safly



  9. Ralph Graw on November 13, 2021 at 4:56 pm

    How can I get a 2019 10p A-Z collection.
    Habe Tried everything



    • Alexandra Siddons on November 15, 2021 at 1:35 pm

      Hi Ralph,

      These coins were incredibly popular and got snapped up quite quickly by collectors – they’re even off sale at The Royal Mint now!

      Unfortunately Change Checker has also sold out. If you’re desperate to get your hands on a complete set, it would be worth looking on secondary markets, such as eBay. But remember, it’s important to check you’re paying the correct amount (and not any more!). You can use our helpful eBay Buying Tips to ensure you only pay a fair price: https://www.changechecker.org/2018/12/13/how-much-is-your-coin-really-worth-debunking-ebay-coin-price-myths-2/

      Thanks,
      Alex



    • Dougie on November 17, 2021 at 9:17 pm

      Hi I have the full set plus token coin with glider how much are you looking to pay



  10. Stuart cullen on November 13, 2021 at 4:38 pm

    I have rare 50 p peices along with 2 pound coins, who will buy these from me and where to go

    Stuart



  11. Farzana Majeed on November 13, 2021 at 5:49 am

    I have over 3 collection coin wallets full of £2, £1 notes, 50p, old penny, shillings and tons of 2p coins( 1983) but can’t find a reputable coin valuer can you help? I am in Glasgow.
    Thank you



  12. Rob Bellis on November 12, 2021 at 7:36 pm

    I have lots of top hitters of the 50ps and the £2 coins, I have them in my safe, my question is, is are they ever going to be worth money or is it just taking up room?
    If I could could sell them where can I sell them?



    • Alexandra Siddons on November 15, 2021 at 1:40 pm

      Hi Rob,

      Great question! The best thing about collecting is that the coins you’ve found in your change, will always be worth their denomination – so they’re an investment in that sense. However, some coins are particularly sought-after by collectors, meaning that they could fetch a pretty penny on secondary market sites if you’re looking to sell.

      To determine the value of the coins in your collection, you can use our 6 Point Guide, which will then give you an idea of how much collectors may currently be prepared to pay on secondary market sites like eBay.

      Best,
      Alex



  13. John fulton on November 12, 2021 at 3:31 pm

    You said never miss a coin with the proscription,what happened to my £5 coin Pride off England 2018. When I got in contact with you, you said that one was not on the list,But it is on the royal mint list for £5 coins. So how do I get one for my album for the space that is missing. I have been on the subscription for years and I have all the £5 coins from Westminster.Thanks Jake ?



    • Alexandra Siddons on November 15, 2021 at 2:26 pm

      Hi there,

      For help with your Westminster account, please can you contact [email protected] and our dedicated team will be able to help you with this query.

      Thanks,
      Alex