COINNING IT
The four coins to check in your holiday change that could be worth up to £2.9million
It's time to dig out your old change and see if it could make you rich
YOUR holiday change could be hiding a windfall and an expert has revealed the four American coins that could be worth up to £2.9million.
So, if you've travelled to the and have a pile of loose change hidden in a drawer it's time to dig it out.
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The TikTok creator, who goes by CoinCollectingWizard, has outlined four rare coins that everyone should check for.
He shared details of the coins on where he has collected 211k followers.
In his latest video the coin collecting expert said: "Check your American coins to make easy money.
"Some will seriously make you super rich - check this out."
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The coins flagged by the influencer could be worth as much as £2.9million, so it's definitely worth rooting around in your purse or wallet to see if you have any.
Bear in mind though, that you might not always get such a hefty amount for a rare coin.
The design of the coin, its condition and whether or not the coin is in circulation also affects how much it could be worth.
You can easily figure out how rare a coin is, by checking its mintage figures.
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If a coin has a low mintage, it means there's less in circulation and is therefore rarer and it could potentially be worth more than its face value.
These are the four coins to look out for:
Exact dates to spot on the 10 rarest 1p coins worth up to £200k
1913 Liberty Head nickel
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The 1913 Liberty Head nickel is one of the most famous rare coins in the world.
Only five of the American five cent pieces were ever struck, and two of those are in museums.
CoinCollectingWizard said: "The 1913 Liberty Head nickel is an American five cent piece, which was produced in extremely limited quantities unauthorised by the United States Mint making it one of the best known and most coveted rarities in numismatics.
"In 1972 one specimen of this coin became the first coin to sell for over $100,000 (£80,638) then another sold for $3.7million (£2.9million)."
There have been rumours that a sixth coin exists, although these are thought to be unfounded.
1969-S Lincoln cent
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The 1969-S Lincoln cent is the second coin the expert told people to look out for.
The S distinction can be found under the date and indicates that the coin was minted in San Francisco.
CoinCollectingWizard said: "The 1969-S Lincoln cent coin is exceedingly rare. The secret service confiscated the early specimens until the US Mint admitted they were genuine.
"Counterfeits abound but usually have the wrong mint mark. However in May 2014 a mother in Texas found one while going through rolls of coins PCGS graded the coin AU50 five valued at approximately $40,000 (£32,255)."
It is the doubled die obverse variety of the coin that is worth the most.
To spot one look for elements of the design that are doubled in slightly overlapping positions
1972 Lincoln cent
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The 1972 Lincoln cent also has elements that are doubled, making it both rarer and more valuable.
Due to an issue in the minting process, this coin was struck with a face side die twice in slightly different positions, creating a slight overlap in some features.
So, while President Lincoln's head looks normal, the words and numbers around him appear distorted.
CoinCollectingWizard said: "Another one with a doubling effect on the obverse is the 1972 Lincoln one cent coin. now I did say an easy $400 for this era coin but to be honest this all depends on condition.
"You are more than likely to get at least $400 (£322) for this coin but if the condition is even greater then expect to make some big bucks."
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1933 Gold Double Eagle
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The 1933 Gold Double Eagle is a $20 coin that has been described as the most beautiful coin ever minted in the US.
During the Great Depression President Roosevelt required Americans to turn in their gold coins for paper dollars.
Following Roosevelt’s proclamation, 445,500 double eagle coins bearing 1933 dates and struck at the Philadelphia Mint were subsequently melted down into gold bars.
Only two of the coins were preserved and sent to the Smithsonian Institution.
Before the coins were melted, 20 double eagles were stolen from the Mint in and wound up in the hands of various people.
CoinCollectingWizard said: "The Holy grail of American coin collecting is this 1933 gold double eagle. In 2021 this gold double eagle sold at auction for $19million (£15.3million)."
What makes a coin rare?
Rare coins have been known to sell for thousands of pounds in the past with collectors keen to snap them up.
A coin is considered rare usually if it falls into one of two categories - having a low mintage or being an "error" coin.
The mintage of a coin relates to how many of it were struck and put into general circulation.
How do I find out what my coin is worth?
If you're lucky enough to pick up a rare coin in your spare change, it could go for hundreds of pounds depending on how rare it is.
You should check how much the coin is selling for on eBay.
Search the full name of the coin, select the "sold" listing and then toggle the search to "highest value".
It will give you an idea of the amount of money that the coin is going for.
But remember, a buyer could always pull out so the coin may not have gone for the price it says it has.
And watch out for fakes too.
You can also use an online tool that gives you an estimate of how much it could be worth on eBay, as well as any other rare coins you have.
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Coin Hunter gives you an estimated valuation of your coin based on the average of the most recent sales, as well as a range of how much you can expect it to fetch.
Plus Change Checker's Scarcity Index will give you a good idea of how rare a coin is.
What are the most rare and valuable coins?
- Five rarest coins - do you have one?
- The 13 most valuable £2 coins in circulation
- How valuable are the rarest £1 coins?
- Most rare and valuable 50p coins in circulation
- Rare and most valuable 20p coins that could be worth up to £750
- Rarest 10p coins in circulation
- Rare 2p coins revealed
- How to check if you have a rare and valuable banknote
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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