There’s such a tremendous amount to consider with rare coins these days. While some might possess a minuscule feature that renders them valuable, others could own the rarest coin in British history without even knowing it.
Now one enthusiast has revealed the ultimate piece to search for in your collection. The extraordinary coin is so precious that it’s not worth a few hundred pounds, but rather in the £50,000 bracket. Instagram user @CoinCollectingWizard, who boasts 32,700 followers, recently discussed the 1945 silver three pence which at first glance might appear like a standard coin of that denomination – until you examine a tiny detail.
In a recent video, the collector spoke about how the Royal Mint switched from the silver three pence to the 12-sided brass version that year.
He said: “[This] makes the silver version from 1945 extremely rare and valuable. At first glance, it looks like any old three pence but here’s the catch.
“In 1945, Britain had already switched to a brass three pence making the silver ones extremely rare.”
Discussing the coins, he claimed only a small number of silver three pence pieces were minted in 1945 possibly for overseas use or special orders but “very few” have ever been found.
So how much is this coin worth you ask?
The coin enthusiast told followers if a genuine 1945 silver three pence is discovered in their pockets, it could sell for £50,000, if not more.
“Be careful because 1945 three pences are brass and not silver,” he concluded.
“If yours sticks to a magnet, it’s not the rare one.”
The silver three pence coins could be worth a pretty penny, with their value hinging on age, condition and rarity.
In the past, some rare examples have fetched hundreds or even thousands of pounds, while others are worth only their intrinsic silver value plus a small premium.
British silver three pence coins were made from sterling silver until 1946, and the value is tied to both the current market price of silver and collector interest.
To check if your coin is valuable, make sure you focus on the year and portrait of the monarch. It’s advised to compare your coin to online resources, like Coin Hunter.
And finally, consult a coin dealer who can ultimately give you a definitive valuation.
