Home Uk News

5 UK Pennies Worth Up To £130,000: The Tiny Mark That Makes Your 1p Coin Worth Over £2,000

• minute read
Contents
The hunt for rare British coins is more active than ever, and a single one-penny coin from your pocket change could be the key to unlocking a fortune of over £2,000. As of December 19, 2025, coin experts are urging the public to check their old pennies for a specific, tiny detail that separates a common coin from a true numismatic prize. This guide dives into the specific pennies that command four- and five-figure sums, focusing on the most sought-after varieties and the crucial mint marks you must look for. The allure of the rare UK penny lies in its unassuming appearance; these are not gold or silver coins, but humble bronze or copper pieces that were once everyday currency. The staggering values—reaching up to £130,000 for the rarest examples—are driven by scarcity, historical significance, and, most importantly, distinct minting errors or unique identifying marks that separate them from millions of mass-produced coins.

The King's Norton Mint Mark: The £2,000+ Penny Still in Circulation

The most talked-about valuable penny in recent years, and the one most likely to be found by a casual collector, is a specific variety of the King George V Penny. This coin’s value is directly tied to an obscure historical event: The First World War.

The 1919 KN Penny: Specifications and Value

During the peak of World War I, the Royal Mint struggled to keep up with the demand for currency. To alleviate the pressure, two private mints were contracted to produce the bronze penny: the Heaton Mint in Birmingham and the King's Norton Metal Company, also in Birmingham. Coins produced by these external mints were required to bear a distinctive mint mark, which is the key to their modern-day value.

  • Monarch: King George V (1910–1936)
  • Year of Issue: 1919
  • The Critical Mark: A small ‘KN’ (for King’s Norton) located on the reverse side, just to the left of the date, near the rim.
  • Rarity Factor: The King's Norton Mint produced far fewer pennies than the Royal Mint or the Heaton Mint. The 1919 KN penny is particularly scarce in high grades.
  • Current Value (2025): A 1919 KN Penny in Excellent or Uncirculated condition can fetch over £2,000 at auction. Even coins in good condition can command hundreds of pounds.

How to Spot It: Turn the penny over to the reverse (tails) side, which features Britannia. Look closely at the ground line beneath Britannia and the date "1919." The tiny superimposed letters 'K' and 'N' will be visible just above the ground line. Do not confuse this with the 'H' mint mark from the Heaton Mint, which is also valuable but typically less so than the 'KN' variety.

The Rarest of the Rare: The Five-Figure British Pennies

While the 1919 KN penny is a fantastic find, two other Victorian and George V pennies represent the peak of British numismatic rarity, with values far exceeding the £2,000 benchmark. These are the coins that make headlines every time they appear at auction.

1. The 1933 George V Penny: The Holy Grail of British Coinage

The 1933 penny is arguably the most famous and valuable coin in all of British history. No pennies were intended for general circulation in 1933, as there were already enough in stock. The only ones produced were a tiny handful of "pattern" or "proof" coins for official purposes, such as inclusion in the Royal Mint's collection and for the foundations of certain buildings.

  • Monarch: King George V
  • Year of Issue: 1933
  • Rarity Factor: Only seven official examples are known to exist worldwide.
  • Current Value (2025): Due to its extreme scarcity, this coin is valued at an estimated £72,000 to over £130,000. One example sold for over £70,000 in 2016.
  • Key Entities: King George V, Britannia, Proof Coin, Pattern Coin, Royal Mint.

Warning: Be extremely cautious of any 1933 penny. Many fakes and replicas exist. A genuine 1933 penny will have a specific design detail: the legend on the reverse side reads "GEORGIUS V D G BRITT OMN REX F D IND IMP" and the date should be clear. If you find one, a professional numismatist must authenticate it immediately.

2. The 1843 Victoria Penny: The Classic £2,000 Coin

Before the George V era, the Victorian copper pennies hold significant value for collectors, particularly those from the early years of Queen Victoria’s reign. The year 1843 is particularly notable, as the value of a high-grade example aligns perfectly with the initial search query of a "penny worth 2000."

  • Monarch: Queen Victoria (Young Head Portrait)
  • Year of Issue: 1843
  • Rarity Factor: While millions were minted, the number of coins surviving in pristine, uncirculated condition is extremely low. Early Victorian copper pennies are often found heavily worn.
  • Current Value (2025): A well-preserved 1843 penny in Extremely Fine (EF) condition is valued at around £2,000. A truly uncirculated example can fetch even more.
  • Key Entities: Queen Victoria, Copper Coinage, Young Head Portrait, Numismatic Grading, Extremely Fine (EF).

How to Identify a Valuable UK Penny: A Collector's Checklist

Finding a rare penny is often a matter of luck, but knowing what to look for significantly increases your chances. The value of any coin is determined by three key factors: Rarity, Condition, and Demand.

Crucial Numismatic Entities to Check

When examining your British pennies, focus on these five critical elements:

  1. Mint Mark: This is the most important factor for modern pennies. Look for small letters like ‘KN’ (King’s Norton) or ‘H’ (Heaton) on King George V pennies (1912, 1918, 1919).
  2. The Date: Certain years, such as 1933, 1919 (KN), 1918 (H), and 1843, are famous for their scarcity. Always check the date first.
  3. Condition (Grade): A coin’s condition, or "grade," is paramount. A penny in "Good" condition might be worth £10, while the same coin in "Uncirculated" (mint state) could be worth £2,000. Look for clear details, no surface scratches, and original lustre.
  4. Error Varieties: Look for striking errors, such as a double-struck design, off-centre alignment, or the wrong metal being used (e.g., the rare 1954 'Copper' Penny). These unique mistakes are highly prized by numismatists and coin collectors.
  5. The Designer's Initial: On some Victorian pennies, a tiny initial like 'W.W.' (for designer William Wyon) can indicate a valuable variety or proof coin.

The world of rare British pennies is a fascinating intersection of history, metallurgy, and chance. Whether you’re searching through an old family collection or simply checking your small change, the potential for discovering a coin worth over £2,000 is a very real possibility, especially with the scarcity of the 1919 King's Norton Mint Penny making headlines today.

5 UK Pennies Worth Up To £130,000: The Tiny Mark That Makes Your 1p Coin Worth Over £2,000
rare uk penny worth 2000
rare uk penny worth 2000

Detail Author:

  • Name : Moshe Legros
  • Username : ike72
  • Email : gcollins@bauch.com
  • Birthdate : 1996-12-27
  • Address : 2401 Luther Streets Suite 354 Jamalborough, MA 90028-5579
  • Phone : +1.959.526.0482
  • Company : Hegmann Ltd
  • Job : Budget Analyst
  • Bio : Possimus et quae est culpa. Ut ea animi magni at. Asperiores facilis minima placeat dolores quo fuga.

Socials

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/mose.walker
  • username : mose.walker
  • bio : Modi at ullam velit voluptatem reiciendis quia. Et consequatur totam aperiam quisquam quo.
  • followers : 5442
  • following : 2489

facebook:

  • url : https://facebook.com/mose_walker
  • username : mose_walker
  • bio : Officiis aut quia tenetur. Ipsum quia dolorum iure non totam sit ab eos.
  • followers : 199
  • following : 1649

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@mose.walker
  • username : mose.walker
  • bio : Eos iste soluta aliquid necessitatibus. Nam vero nihil vel aliquid.
  • followers : 4408
  • following : 204

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/mose_walker
  • username : mose_walker
  • bio : Nisi sit quod et suscipit rerum est. Quisquam beatae iusto libero assumenda. Dolores quia soluta vel eveniet ducimus nemo. Ipsa et nisi ullam optio voluptatem.
  • followers : 3436
  • following : 820

linkedin:

Random Posts