It is likely that the coin you have is of a type we have seen previously in the Museum all of which had been maltreated after issue into circulation, and plated to give them a silver coloured appearance.

There were just over 1.4 billion 2 pence coins with the inscription ‘NEW PENCE’ struck dated 1971, and it seems to be an urban myth that has developed recently that these coins are rare. There were some 2 pence coins struck with the date 1983 and the ‘NEW PENCE’ inscription which are considered rare, however this is because they should read ‘TWO PENCE’. The majority of these coins were issued in coin sets. However, all other coins bearing the inscription ‘NEW PENCE’ and dated 1971 are relatively common, and do not have any particular rarity or value.

As a result of the rising price of base metals, the composition of 1p and 2p coins was changed from bronze to copper-plated steel in 1992. Since then all 1p and 2p coins intended for circulation have been struck in copper-plated steel, with the exception of a quantity of 1998-dated 2p coins which were produced in the traditional bronze. Likewise, the composition of 5p and 10p coins was changed from cupro-nickel to nickel-plated steel in 2011.Plated steel coins have the same weight and diameter as those issued in the traditional alloys but their steel core makes them magnetic.

When coins are struck, the edge inscription is applied to £2 coins before the obverse and reverse designs are struck. This means that the orientation of the inscription in relation to the obverse portrait occurs at random, as the inner and outer parts of the coin are not sorted before being fed into the press. Overall, there is no set rule for the orientation of the edge inscription on circulating coins in relation to the obverse portrait, or reverse design.

The Museum is able to offer an explanation for any apparent mis-strikes or error pieces that have been produced at the Royal Mint. If you would like to submit a coin or medal for examination, in the first instance please send photographs and a description to us using the general enquiries form at the bottom of this page. We suggest you read our FAQs for answers to general questions.

Please note: The Museum does not provide valuations for your coins or medals. We will look at your request and if appropriate we will invite you to send your coin or medal to us for examination. There is a charge of £20 for the examination of decimal coins. For information on the authentication of pre-decimal coins please visit https://www.royalmint.com/collector-services/

It is very likely that the coin you have has been maltreated after issue, with the inner removed then turned around. Owing to the way this coin is made, it would be very unlikely for this to occur during the striking process.

With time, all coins show signs of aging and can discolour or tone, and this is largely dependent on the environment that the coins are kept in. Different metals will react to different chemicals in the environment and, unfortunately, without knowing the full details of where the coins have been kept, it would be difficult to say what has caused them to start discolouring.

Provided they are reproduced faithfully and shown in good taste, images of coins may be used in advertisements. Images must be clearly recognizable as coins – for example, the reverse of a 10p may be shown but not the lion rampant in isolation. Where the royal portrait or royal devices are shown, it is important to make sure there is no suggestion of royal endorsement.

Section 10 of the Coinage Act 1971 states that: 'No person shall, except under the authority of a licence granted by the Treasury, melt down or break up any metal coin which is for the time being current in the United Kingdom or which, having been current there, has at any time after 16th May 1969 ceased to be so.' This provision has the effect of protecting not only all current coins but also the large majority of demonetised coins that you are likely to come across. To seek a licence to break up or melt down coins protected by Section 10 – or indeed to discuss precisely what constitutes breaking up or melting down a coin – you would need to contact the Debt & Reserves Management Team at the Treasury.

Sovereigns for circulation were last struck in London in 1917 – although they continued to be produced at the overseas branches of the Royal Mint for a few more years.

The last sterling silver coins were issued in 1920, and the last 500 silver coins in 1946.

Although direct access to the Museum is limited there are many ways for you to discover our collection. Find out more 

The opening of the Royal Mint Experience in May 2016 revolutionised the way members of the public can engage with our remarkable collection. The purpose-built visitor attraction, based on the Royal Mint site in Llantrisant South Wales, comprises a guided tour of the circulating coin factory where you can see thousands of freshly minted coins tumble from coining presses and have the opportunity to ‘strike your own coin’.

The large free-flow exhibition area where visitors can explore 1,100 years of the Royal Mint’s history through a mixture of Museum objects and interactive displays, allows you access to the Museum’s collection on an unprecedented scale. The display of star objects, such as the Olympic and Paralympic medals from the London 2012 Games as well as incredible rarities such as the 1933 penny and a gold sovereign of Edward VIII, are a must-see.

Find out more and book your tickets here at https://www.royalmint.com/the-royal-mint-experience/

Designs for United Kingdom coins are generally obtained by inviting a number of specialist artists to take part in a limited competition. But there are occasions when a design competition is thrown open to members of the general public; recent examples would be for the new definitive reverse designs introduced in 2008 and for the London 2012 50p sporting series. Whenever a public competition is held, it is well publicised through the Royal Mint website and other media.

Unfortunately, exchanging old pound coins is not a service offered by the Royal Mint to members of the public. You may be able to exchange round £1 coins at your local banks and the Post Office provided you hold an account with them. Specific arrangements may vary from bank to bank, including deposit limits. It is recommended that you consult with your bank directly.

The Museum does not provide valuations. The Royal Mint does, however, offer this service for pre-decimal coins. For further information, please visit the Royal Mint Collector Services.

Alternatively, you might like to approach a numismatic dealer. Contact details for reputable dealers may be found on the Members page of the British Numismatic Trade Association website.

The Museum does not buy coins from the general public. The Royal Mint does, however, offer this service for pre-decimal coins. For further information, please visit the Royal Mint Collector Services. Alternatively, you might like to approach a numismatic dealer. Contact details for reputable dealers may be found on the Members page of the British Numismatic Trade Association website.

The Museum is able to offer an explanation for any apparent mis-strikes or error pieces that have been produced at the Royal Mint. If you would like to submit a coin or medal for examination, in the first instance please send photographs and a description to us using the general enquiries form at the bottom of this page. We suggest you read our FAQs for answers to general questions.

Please note: The Museum does not provide valuations for your coins or medals. We will look at your request and if appropriate we will invite you to send your coin or medal to us for examination. There is a charge of £20 for the examination of decimal coins. For information on the authentication of pre-decimal coins please visit https://www.royalmint.com/collector-services/

If you would like to submit a coin or medal for authentication, in the first instance please send photographs and a description to us using the general enquiries form at the bottom of this page We suggest you read our FAQs for answers to general questions.

Please note: The Museum does not provide valuations for your coins or medals.

We will look at your request and if appropriate we will invite you to send your coin or medal to us for examination. There is a charge of £20 for the examination of decimal coins. For information on the authentication of pre-decimal coins please visit https://www.royalmint.com/collector-services/

Using coins to make jewellery is not prohibited providing the process does not contravene Section 10 of the Coinage Act 1971 which states that: 'No person shall, except under the authority of a licence granted by the Treasury, melt down or break up any metal coin which is for the time being current in the United Kingdom or which, having been current there, has at any time after 16th May 1969 ceased to be so.' This provision has the effect of protecting not only all current coins but also the large majority of demonetised coins that you are likely to come across. To seek a licence to break up or melt down coins protected by Section 10 – or indeed to discuss precisely what constitutes breaking up or melting down a coin – you would need to contact the Debt & Reserves Management Team at the Treasury.

The Museum deals with hundreds of enquiries every year, supporting a variety of research projects from academics as well as a diverse range from interested members of the public.

If you have a research enquiry, please make contact with the Museum via our contact us page. Visits to the Museum may also be arranged for specific independent research into the collection in the same way.

The Museum Team is always happy to assist with questions and research, and we make freely available as much of our time and collection as we can. You can ask questions for free, and we will do our best to get back to you within two weeks.

Our research team is small, with limited time available, and we receive a great many requests for information and resources. While most can be processed quickly and without cost, enquiries needing extensive research, photography, or scanning will require us to charge a fee for the work undertaken and provision of documents. Requests of this scale are uncommon, and we will always inform you if your request falls into this category, to work with you and provide the most useful service possible. Don’t forget, you are always welcome to get in touch and arrange a research visit to examine or photograph items at no charge.

The latest UK’s circulating coin mintage figures includes all denominations of circulating coins minted and either released into circulation or requested from HM Treasury stored at the Royal Mint ready to go into circulation in the upcoming months.

The actual demand for coins issued into circulation is determined by demand from UK banks and Post Offices. We then respond by issuing coins on behalf of HM Treasury who ultimately decide how many new coins are issued into circulation. In the event that more stocks of UK coins are required to meet demand, we would seek approval to produce more.

Mintage figures for United Kingdom circulating and commemorative coins can be found on the Royal Mint website. For information on specific historic or overseas mintage figures please contact the Museum via our general enquiries form.

If you would like to submit a coin or medal for identification, in the first instance please send photographs and a description to us using the general enquiries form at the bottom of this page We suggest you read our FAQs for answers to general questions.

Please note: The Museum does not provide valuations for your coins or medals.

We will look at your request and if appropriate we will invite you to send your coin or medal to us for examination. There is a charge of £20 for the examination of decimal coins. For information on the authentication of pre-decimal coins please visit https://www.royalmint.com/collector-services/

Useful lists of names of Mint employees exist from the 16th century onwards. But the records are especially strong from about 1900 onwards, when it becomes possible to provide summary career details for every member of staff. The Museum also holds thousands of photographs of people at work dating back to the late 19th century.

If you would like to make a family history enquiry about a former employee, or if you have a story you wish to share, we would love to hear from you.

The Royal Mint Museum
Llantrisant
Pontyclun CF72 8YT
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1443 623004

If you have an enquiry about the Museum, the collection or British coins and medals not answered in our FAQ’s please complete the form below.