Rare Coins List

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About the rare coins list:

Welcome to the rare coins list! The intention of this list is to be a handy "checklist" of scarce coins by date, with some of the better known error varieties included. Bookmark this page, also why not print this list out to have a handy, quick checklist to take with you when coin hunting - you might find a rarity that you would otherwise have missed and I'd be delighted if you did!

There are innumerable subtle varieties with coins - for example die numbers - and so it is not possible to list them all. New varieties come to light - especially with ancient coins; as numismatists compare coins for variation and ancient hoards are unearthed.

It's a lot of work to put this list together, and it's only just begun. Please bear with me as I hope to expand it over time! More to be added soon! And if you notice any that I have missed, I would be very thankful is you write and let me know so I can update the list.

Note - bear in mind that numerous coins are common in 'average' condition, and very rare or even unknown in top condition: This list is a list of coins that are less common / hard to find in any condition. If you find a coin that is not on this list but is in unusually good condition, especially if the coin is ancient, be sure to check it with a coin catalogue or with the eye of a trusted expert; it might be very scarce and valuable in that grade.

Rare British Coins

Coin Type: Date: Variety / Error type if applicable: Number minted / in existence (if known): Notes:
CROWN: 1526-1662 (hammered) Any hammered crown is going to be valuable (especially gold crowns), prices escalating considerably in high grade. Many issues are quite obtainable and can readily be seen for sale online - however there are numerous rarities - too many for the scope of this page.
" 1658 v rare Thought to be pattern milled coins that entered circulation. There are two types - silver and gold, both with 8 over 7 in the date. The gold milled 1658 crown is worth a fortune, 2 being known.
" 1662-1684 Numerous rare varieties exist in thei complex series. Prices go up sharply in higher grades.
Coin Type: Date: Variety / Error type if applicable: Number minted / in existence (if known): Notes:
FLORIN: 1848 Pattern only, rare! May say "One Dime", "One Decade", "One Centum" or "One Florin"
" 1848-1887 (young head) Proofs Several years have proofs, all are rare and v. valuable in UNC especially plain edge proofs which may fetch thousands!
" 1851 1,540 Rare! Not legal tender until 1852 so probably all were proofs.
" 1854 550,413 Said by Coincraft to be harder to find than the mintage number would lead one to believe
" 1862 594,000
" 1863 938,520
" 1864 Thick flan variety Weighs 14.5-14.8 grams instead of usual 11.3
" 1866 914,760
" 1867 423,720
" 1891 836,438
" 1892 283,401 "Regular" version less common than surrounding years. Proof is v rare - only 5 thought to exist!
" 1905 1,187,596 Considered a "key date", however any Florin of Edward VII (1901-1910) is valuable in high grade. As a starting point, look for Edward VII Florins with clearly visible date on obverse.
" 1922 Proof in gold While the ordinary issue is common, the proof in gold is extremely rare and valuable. In 2004, one sold for £9000 at auction, another for £9775. Beware coins without good provenance.
" 1925 1,404,136
" 1932 707,041 number minted in surrounding years typically around 5,000,000 to 15,000,000
" 1937 "EDWARDUS VIII" type Extremely rare. Looks very similar to "GEORGIUS VI" type, other than King's name on obv.
" 1967 Rare variety with "tails" (reverse design) on both sides!
Coin Type: Date: Variety / Error type if applicable: Number minted / in existence (if known): Notes:
SIXPENCE: 1552-1658 (hammered) - numerous rarities among these dates, many of the coins are not uncommon but knowledgeable examination is advised as even common dates may have rare variations.
" 1658 4 exist? Only around four of these Cromwell sixpences are thought to exist!
" 1693 3 in "1693" inverted In the "correct" reverse, all letters of the date should read "the right way up" when the English shield (3 lions) is at the top.
" 1695-1701 numerous Large number of errors and variations exist for sixpences 1695-1701 - too many to list. Consult "Coincraft" catalogue for list.
" 1700 "plume below head" type v rare!
" 1717 plain edge instead of milled This was an error, not a proof type
" 1821 BBITANNIAR instead of BRITANNIAR error on obverse
" 1826 Reverse is upside down from Obverse
" 1828 15,840
" 1831 Proof, the variety made from Palladium metal Was this the first palladium coin ever made?
" 1842 "I" in VICTORIA obv. made from numeral - V1CTOR1A
" 1847 0 known All overstamped with 1848?
" 1848 8 over 7 586,080?
" 1848 8 over 6
" 1849 205,920 - none exist? Lots minted, "none known to exist"
" 1854 840,116
" 1861 601,920 - none exist? Lots minted, "none known to exist"
" 1862 990,000
" 1863 491,040
" 1866 "no die number" variety
" 1893 "Jubilee head" variety rare and valuable in good condition!
" 1952 "Jubilee head" variety 1,013,477 Relatively rare only, still very obtainable: Around 40 million made in other years of the 40's and 50's.
" 1970 Proof only 750,476

Notes
1: proof coins are in general much less common that the 'regular" variety of any given date, however this is not always the case and the number of proofs made is unpredictable as a ratio of the overall mintage of any given type.
2: Mintage figures are not necessarily indicative of a coin's rarity. For example, the 1847 shilling has a mintage figure of 847,440 - yet none are known. Sometimes, old coins are called in and melted down, minted but not issued, restruck with another date, or disappear from circulation for other reasons.

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