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Rare coin alert to football fans – a special £2 piece may be worth a hefty sum


A rare £2 coin has been valued at over £1,434- so it’s definitely worth checking your change to see if you have one

The UEFA European Football Championship, less formally the European Championship and informally the Euros.
The coin is associated with a major sporting event that took place in 1996 (Pictured: Alan Shearer of England and Paul Gascoigne)(Image: Getty Images)

You might assume a £2 coin is only worth its face value, but don’t be fooled. One such coin has been valued at an eye-watering £1,434, so it’s time to start digging through your spare change.

This golden treasure was minted by the Royal Mint in 1996 to mark the 10th European football championship, Euro ’96, which took place on home soil. The tournament witnessed matches played across eight key English cities – Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Sheffield.

Despite the buzz of hosting, England’s dreams were dashed in the semi-finals, while Germany clinched the title against the Czech Republic in a nail-biting 2-1 finale win at Wembley. Fast forward almost 30 years, and these commemorative £2 coins are still floating around, numbering in the thousands.

The 1996 EUROs coin produced by the Royal Mint
The gold coin was first produced by the Royal Mint in 1996, marking the 10th European football championship held in the UK.(Image: Liverpool Echo)

So, don’t let that change jar go unturned; one of these special £2 coins could just turn you into a winner. The Britannia Coin Company has explained: “The competition – known informally as the Euros – has been held every four years since 1960.

“The England team didn’t win Euro 96 and haven’t taken home the trophy yet, but that hasn’t stopped this commemorative £2 from becoming popular among sporting fans and collectors of British coins.”

British Currency, Coins on top of wallet.
Right now, collectors can grab one of these from dealer Chards for £1,434 (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)

Sculptor John Wills is the artistic genius behind these unique coins, which display a prominent football motif and the year ‘1996’ at their centre. The flipside bears a young portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

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Currently, collectors can grab one of these from dealer Chards for £1,434. However, various other variations have been listed on eBay for as much as £1,996 and £2,990.

Yet, if you’re not the lucky owner of this football coin, don’t worry. There’s an entire cache of potentially valuable coins that could be lurking forgotten in your attic.

A man shows a handful of pennies
While it’s easy to assume that all coins are simply worth their face value, this isn’t always true(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Take for example a rare 1933 piece that recently sold for £140,000, as only seven known to exist worldwide. Chris Yang, Co-founder of Coins Value, previously told The Star: “In sum, scrutinise your coins, have them identified and graded professionally, and work with experienced numismatists to determine the real value of your coins so that you can sell them for the best price.

“Remember, the thrill of coin collecting isn’t always about striking gold; it’s about connecting with history and uncovering hidden treasures. Your old coin jar might hold more than just spare change – it could be a portal to a fascinating past.”

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