Rare £2 coin in circulation that is worth 26 times its face value

If you've got one particular £2 coin in your pocket or purse, you could be sitting on a small fortune, as the rare design is currently selling for over £50

Three new £2 coins have been unveiled by The Royal Mint to mark 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare. The coins, which are available in gold, silver and brilliant uncirculated finishes, each feature a different design inspired by the poet’s work.

The tragedy £2 coin design features an image of Lady Macbeth holding a dagger, while the comedy coin depicts Touchstone the court jester from As You Like It. Finally, the history coin shows a scene from Henry V with the king stood among his troops on a rocky outcrop at Agincourt.

Each of the coins also has a unique edge inscription. The tragedy coin reads “frailty, thy name is woman”, the comedy coin has the inscription “all the world’s a stage”, and the history coin features the words “once more unto the breach”.

The coins are available to purchase from The Royal Mint website, with prices starting from £10. Those looking to add the coins to their collection can choose from a range of finishes, including gold proof, silver proof and brilliant uncirculated.

The tragedy coin in gold proof will set collectors back £1,125, while the silver proof version costs £110 and the brilliant uncirculated coin is priced at £27. The comedy coin costs £1,060 in gold proof, £100 in silver proof and £26 in brilliant uncirculated.

Finally, the history coin is priced at £990 in gold proof, £90 in silver proof and £25 in brilliant uncirculated. Those looking to purchase the three-coin set can do so for £2,990 in gold proof, £275 in silver proof and £72 in brilliant uncirculated.

Collectors are being urged to check their change, as one of the rarest 50p coins in the UK could be hiding in their wallets. The coin, which was struck in 2009 to mark the 250th anniversary of Kew Gardens, is said to be worth up to £54.

The coin features the design of the famous Chinese zodiac on the reverse, with the words “Kew Gardens 250” inscribed around the rim. However, due to a mint error, the standard edge inscription, which should read “what a piece of work is a man”, has been replaced by the words from another £2 coin.

This error is what makes the coin so valuable, as it is highly sought-after by collectors. According to Coin Hunter, the coin is currently selling for around 54 times its face value on eBay.

However, the coin’s value can vary greatly depending on its condition and whether it has been cleaned or damaged in any way. As a result, collectors are advised to get their coins valued by an expert before selling them.