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18 rarest Royal Mint coins minted under Queen Elizabeth II
Some of these elusive pieces can fetch prices far above their face value on resale platforms like eBay, where demand remains high.
Among the most sought-after are the iconic Kew Gardens 50p and a range of limited-edition alphabet 10p coins.
Mark Loveridge, director of UK currency at the Royal Mint, said: “The coinage of Queen Elizabeth II spanned 70 years and special designs issued into circulation celebrated some of the biggest events in history.
“Although the 2022 mintage figures mark the last time that Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait will appear on new coins, over 27 billion of her coins will remain in circulation.
“Coin collecting remains a popular hobby in the UK and the coins of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign are particularly coveted. By sharing the list of rare designs we hope people will look closely at their coins – if they’re lucky they might find a piece of history.”
What makes a coin valuable?
The 50 pence piece has become the most valued and collected coin in the UK, with many collectable designs appearing on its heptagonal canvas.
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Its 27.5mm diameter makes it the largest of any British coin, and allows space for decorative pictures. It has often been used to celebrate big events over the past 50 years of British history.
The rarest coins tend to be of the greatest value, with the mintage (number of coins with each design made) being the fundamental attraction for collectors.
Along with the design, other aspects of the coin which increase value are the condition of the coin and whether it has an error in its design.
The way in which it is sold can also determine the coin’s value – while some coin collectors will bid vast amounts of money on eBay or at auction, others opt for more robust valuations by selling via a coin dealer.
Royal Mint rarest coins from Queen Elizabeth II’s reign
Here is a list of rare coins compiled by the Royal Mint, with information about the year of release, denomination, design features and whether or not the coin is still in circulation:
- 2019, 10p, a set of “A to Z” coins celebrating Britain. Letters Y, W and Z each had a mintage of 63,000, yes.
- 2019, 10p, also from the A to Z collection, the letter R had a mintage of 64,000, yes.
- 2019, 10p, all other letters in the A to Z collection had a mintage of 84,000, yes.
- 1992-1993, 50p, the coin celebrated the UK’s presidency of the Council of Ministers and the completion of the European single market. The design included a representation of a table with 12 stars, linked by a network of lines and the mintage was 109,000. The Mint said this was the lowest number of its 50ps issued into circulation, no.
- 2009, 50p, the design features the Kew Gardens pagoda with a decorative leafy climber twining in and around the tower, 210,000, yes.
- 2018 dated, 10p, the A to Z 10p collection celebrating Britain, each letter in this year had a mintage of 220,000, yes.
- 2015, £2, this coin paid tribute to the Royal Navy and its role during the First World War, and had a mintage of 650,000, yes.
- 2015, £2, it featured Britannia for the first time on a circulating £2 coin, with a mintage of 650,000, yes.
- 1985, 50p, the coin featured a figure of Britannia, with a shield, with a mintage of 682,103, no.
- 2002, £2, four £2 coins celebrating each home nation for the Commonwealth Games. Mintage figures for Scotland were 771,750, for Wales, 588,500, for Ireland, 485,500, and for England 650,500, yes.
- 2012, £2, the coin celebrated the closing of the 2012 Olympics and had a mintage of 845,000, yes
- 2008, £2, the coin marked the centenary of the Olympic Games, with mintage of 910,000, yes.
- 2008, £2, the coin marked the end of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, with a mintage of 918,000, yes.
- 2011, £2, the coin commemorated 400 years since the King James Bible was published, with a mintage of 975,000, yes.
- 2018, 50p, a series of coins celebrated Beatrix Potter’s classic tales, with a mintage of 1,400,000 each for the Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny designs, yes.
- 2011, 50p, a series of coins celebrating the London 2012 Olympics. Mintages included 1,454,000 for tennis, 1,161,500 for judo and 1,129,500 for wrestling, yes.
- 2010-2011, £1, a series of round pound coins featuring official badges of capital cities in the UK. They had mintages of 935,000 for Edinburgh, 2,635,000 for London and 1,615,000 for Cardiff, no.
- 2008, £1, the round pound coin featured the UK’s Royal Arms, with a mintage of 3,910,000, no.
The presenter is well known to audiences for working with Richard Hammond and James May on both the BBC’s Top Gear and Prime Video’s The Grand Tour.
Having spent over two decades as part of the iconic trio, Mr Clarkson also has presented Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? on ITV since 2018.
This came after he replaced former host Chris Tarrant, who had been on the programme since its inception.
READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson ‘laughed at 19-year-old girl failing to parallel park’
The broadcaster revealed that the game show will see two players make it all the way to the final question this series.
It has now been revealed by ITV that “at least one” contestant will be walking away with £1,000,000 in the new episodes this month.
Mr Clarkson said: “I think this may be my favourite series so far. Seeing two people get to the £1 million question was extraordinary.
“When they’re sitting there on that final question, the tension in the studio is incredible; you can really feel it. Can’t wait for people to watch it.”
READ MORE: Historic England issues statement to Jeremy Clarkson over Cotswolds pub
Mr Clarkson lives in Oxfordshire, where he bought Diddly Squat Farm, then known as Curdle Hill, back in 2008.
The Chadlington-based spot is the focus of Prime Video’s hit documentary show, Clarkson’s Farm.
With four seasons already under its belt, the popular programme is set to return next month with series five.
As many as eight new episodes are expected to be released on Prime Video, with Mr Clarkson to feature heavily once again.
Air fryers, stand mixers and slow cookers are all part of the sale.
Running until April 8 2026, the promotion includes big savings on everyday cooking essentials, with big discounts landing just ahead of Easter.
Air fryer under £90 is leading the sale
One of the standout deals is the Adjustable Large Drawer Air Fryer 9L, now reduced from £129.99 to £89.99.
The model includes:
- A divider to create two separate cooking zones
- Eight pre-set cooking programmes
- A Smart Finish function so meals are ready at the same time
With flexible cooking and a large capacity, it is being positioned as a practical upgrade for busy households looking to cut cooking time and energy use.
Slow cooker drops below £30
For shoppers after a budget-friendly option, Lakeland’s 3.5L Slow Cooker has been reduced to £29.99.
Key features include:
- Three heat settings
- Glass lid for easy monitoring
- Dishwasher-safe ceramic pot
It is aimed at simple, low-effort meals, particularly useful for batch cooking or preparing Easter dishes with minimal prep.
Small upgrade, big difference for Easter cooking
Not all the deals are big-ticket items.
The Multi-Purpose Oven Baking Tray is down to £9.59 and designed for:
- Roasting vegetables
- Baking
- Non-stick easy cleaning
With Easter meals on the horizon, this is one of the lower-cost upgrades that could make a noticeable difference in the kitchen.
Stand mixer under £200
At the higher end, the gorgeous Deluxe 6.5L Stand Mixer has been reduced from £249.99 to £199.99.
It includes:
- Planetary mixing action
- 10 speed settings
- Whisk, dough hook and beater attachments
For home bakers, the price drop brings a premium appliance into a more accessible range ahead of a busy baking season.
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With the sale ending on April 8, timing is a key factor.
Deals like:
- Air fryer under £90
- Mixer under £200
- Everyday essentials under £10
But, it’s worth noting that these are limited-time offers, and similar seasonal promotions often sell out quickly.
What are your plans over the Easter Bank Holiday? Let us know in the comments what you’re up to.
From soap star Beverley Callard to former football manager Harry Redknapp, the South African camp will see a group of famous faces take on even more challenges.
With the trials in South Africa being described as even tougher than those in Australia, you might be wondering how you can watch all the action in the new series.
I’m A Celebrity South Africa lineup 2026
The series, which is the second to be filmed in South Africa, will feature the following stars:
- Former football manager Harry Redknapp
- Reality star Gemma Collins
- Soap actress Beverley Callard
- Olympian Sir Mo Farah
- Former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt
- Champion boxer David Haye
- Actor Adam Thomas
- Former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts
- Comedian Seann Walsh
- Pop star Sinitta
- Red Dwarf star Craig Charles
- Ex-footballer Jimmy Bullard
How did the lineup do in previous I’m A Celeb series’?
Scarlett Moffatt was crowned Queen of the Jungle back in 2016, while Harry Redknapp won the show in 2018.
Winners of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here
David Haye made it to the final in 2012, but Jimmy Bullard had a less successful run in the camp in 2014 and was the first campmate to be voted off.
Is I’m A Celeb South Africa pre-recorded or live?
I’m A Celebrity South Africa is pre-recorded, so the show has already been filmed, unlike the Australian series, which sees Ant and Dec present it live with some pre-recorded elements.
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However, ITV will include a live episode for the final of the show so viewers can vote for the winner of the series, according to the Radio Times.
How to watch I’m A Celeb’s new South Africa series
I’m A Celebrity South Africa’s first episode will air on Easter Monday (April 6).
ITV1 will broadcast the pre-recorded episode from 9pm until 10.30pm or you can watch it on ITVX.
What has been your favourite I’m A Celebrity series so far? Let us know in the comments below.
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