Check your change for 'rarest' UK penny coin worth £200,000

An expert has urged Brits to “look out for” one of the UK’s rarest coins. This highly sought-after penny could be worth as much as £200,000 to collectors. In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, a coin specialist known as the Coin Collecting Wizard, explained what to look for. According to him, the coin to spot is known as the 1952 proof penny.

Proof coins differ from those you would find in circulation as they are special early samples of a coin issue. They are also the highest quality of coin a mint produces.

This specific proof coin was issued just before King George VI died in 1952, making it even more valuable. The Coin Collecting Wizard said: “£200,000 for this old penny.

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“This is a UK penny from 1952. This intriguing proof coin is the rarest proof penny of the entire series of copper and bronze pennies.

“The existence of this unique 1952 proof penny was not known publicly until its initial appearance at numismatic auction in October of 1997 some 45 years after it was struck.

“The British numismatic world was astonished to see this coin appear and in proof quality as this was not known to exist.” It was sold at this auction for £23,468 – worth just under £47,000 in today’s money.

The expert continued: “The 1952 proof penny remains an enigma as the only unique proof striking of a pre-decimal penny of the 20th century. It is perhaps understandable that the George the sixth in 1952 proof penny remains a unique piece as the king died very early in 1952 passing away on sixth of February.

“A lovely example went up for auction recently and sold for £200,000. So it is 100 per cent a coin to look out for.” Experts at Sovereign Rarities added: "It is perhaps understandable that the George VI 1952 proof penny remains a unique piece, as the King died very early in 1952 passing away on 6th February.

“Only the smaller denominations of currency coins that were in great demand were struck for circulation in 1952, with the larger denominations omitted in anticipation of a new reign and a new coinage for Queen Elizabeth II.”

Pre-decimal pennies are 31mm in size and are cast in bronze. The 1952 proof penny features King George VI’s profile on its obverse, with the Latin words “GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX FIDEI DEF”.

On the reverse Britannia is seated with heraldic shield and trident with the words “ONE PENNY 1952”.