Royal Mint: rare error on silver 2p could sell for thousands

Jean Abraham, licensee of the Swann Inn in Port Street, Evesham, discovered the rare silver 2p coin minted in 1988 in her purse - and is not sure how it got there.

"I just know it ended up in my purse amongst my change. I must have been given it in one of the shops I have been in. That's the only explanation I have got. It was in my purse with my receipts," said Miss Abraham.

On eBay a silver 2p coin is selling for £1,850 (a coin minted in 1971) and another (also minted in 1971) for £1,299.

RARE: The rare two pence coin which is silver in colour instead of the usual bronze colour (Image: Jean Abraham)

However, Miss Abraham, 51, said she intended to keep the coin. "It's so strange. It's become a bit of a conversation piece in the pub I work in. It's classed as an error coin. I have heard back from a company in Glasgow who are coin collectors and are interested in the coin. 

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"I want to keep hold of it. I'm not interested in selling it. I was just trying to find more information about it. It's a bit unusual. I like unusual things, unique things.

RARE: The rare silver 2p from 1988 found by Jean Abraham (Image: Supplied by Jean Abraham)

"The people I have spoken to about it are really fascinated. It turns out it's actually an accidentally produced coin."

She is also waiting to hear from the Royal Mint after messaging them about the coin. 

The two pence coin was originally minted from bronze, but changed in 1992 to copper-plated steel.

The reverse of the coin features the Badge of the Prince of Wales: a plume of ostrich feathers within a coronet, above the German motto ICH DIEN or "I serve".