There are so many different coins in the world, it can be tough to keep track of them all. Even if you’re familiar with the most popular ones, there are bound to be a few interesting coins that you haven’t heard of before. This blog post will take a look at six interesting coins that you may not know about!
The Brexit 50p
The name of this coin says it’s a rarity that was made due to the recent political disputes between Great Britain and the European Union. It’s a fine example of Brexit memorabilia that isn’t being produced anymore. The official name was Withdrawal from the EU coin.
There were around 10.000.000 minted and the coins were released into circulation in 2019. The obverse features the Queen’s head with the inscription of Elizabeth II with her hand over her face, and the year of minting, while the reverse has a design that celebrates Britain’s departure from the EU. The inscription on the other side said “Peace, prosperity, and friendship with all nations”.
1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle
In 2021, this became the most valuable coin sold at an auction for over 30 million dollars. Its rarity and fame among coin collectors have made the 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle the most sought-after coin by many. The design of the $20 gold piece is considered one of the most beautiful in the world and it’s also the reason why this coin has been outlawed!
The first batch of coins was issued during Roosevelt’s administration when he removed gold from circulation to help the country recover from the Great Depression. Despite that, a few coins were lawfully struck but they never entered into circulation because they were immediately recalled.
That was until a Philadelphia cashier named George McCann kept some for himself without anyone noticing them missing. He then sold them to a friend at an auction where almost all examples have been melted down except for ten pieces which are now owned by private collectors.
The 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle is the most desirable coin because of the mysterious story behind its creation and how it became one of the most valuable coins in the world. If you’re a coin collector, this is definitely one worth adding to your collection!
1776 Silver Continental Dollar
The oldest coin on this list the 1776 Silver Continental Dollar is the first coin to ever be minted in the United States. While the coin was created under the authority of the Second Continental Congress (as such it features the words “Continental Currency”) but even though they were made after July 16, 1776, they do not feature the date of independence.
It was designed by Benjamin Franklin and the first batch of coins was struck on August 20, 1776. These coins are extremely rare with only about 120 known to still exist in the world. If you can get your hands on one though it could be worth a fortune as they sell for upwards of $500,000 at auction.
The Liberty Head Nickel
This particular coin is interesting because it’s made of nickel and has a head that resembles liberty. The coin was minted from 1883 to 1913, yet it is not in wide circulation today. The reason for this may be because there are only five Liberty Head Nickels known to exist as they were all created during the same time period by the same artist.
According to Reuters, in 2013, one lost coin was sold for 3.17 million at an auction. The coin was found in a car at an estate sale and was not known to exist until it went up on auction.
2012 London Olympics Error Coin
There are a few interesting facts about the 2012 London Olympics Error Coin. Those are the following:
- the 2012 London Olympics Error Coin was the first coin that the Royal Mint had ever produced to celebrate the Olympic Games
- the coin itself is made of silver and has a diameter of 22mm. The obverse side features an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, while the reverse side features the London 2012 logo.
- it was released into circulation in the United Kingdom in the summer of 2012, but it wasn’t long before errors started appearing on them.
- the most common error that appears on the coins is that some of them were struck without the Queen’s head on them.
2009 Kew Gardens 50p
This British coin was first issued in 2009 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Kew Gardens. The reverse side of the coin features a design by David Lawrence depicting a botanical illustration of a tulip. It is made from cupro-nickel and has a diameter of 27.94mm. The 2009 Kew Gardens 50p is not as common as some of the other coins in circulation, so it may be worth more to collectors.
These are just a few interesting coins you can find nowadays around the world. While they may not be in circulation anymore, they’re worth much more than they were originally intended to. All of them have significant historical value and their rarity makes them even more interesting. If you’re into collecting coins, all of the above are worth considering!