Rare coin could sell for £50,000 but collector warns there's 'one catch'

There's so much to bear in mind with rare coins nowadays. While some could bear a tiny feature to make it valuable, others might own the rarest coin in UK history without even realising. Now one collector revealed the ultimate piece to look for in your stash.

The special coin is so valuable that it's not worth a few hundreds, but more in the £50,000 region. Instagram user @CoinCollectingWizard, who boasts 32,700 followers, recently discussed the 1945 silver three pence which at first glance might look like a standard coin of that value – until you focus on a small detail.

In a recent video, the collector spoke about how the Royal Mint changed from the silver three pence to the 12-sided brass version that year.

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He said: "[This] makes the silver version from 1945 extremely rare and valuable.

"At first glance, it looks like any old three pence but here's the catch.

"In 1945, Britain had already switched to a brass three pence making the silver ones extremely rare."

Discussing the coins, he claimed only a small number of silver three pence pieces were minted in 1945 possibly for overseas use or special orders but "very few" have ever been found.

So how much is this coin worth you ask?

The coin collector told followers if a genuine 1945 silver three pence is found in their pockets, it could sell for £50,000, if not more.

"Be careful because 1945 three pences are brass and not silver," he concluded.

"If yours sticks to a magnet, it's not the rare one."

The silver three pence coins are certainly worth something with their value depending on age, condition and rarity.

In the past, some rare examples have fetched hundreds or even thousands of pounds, while others are worth only their intrinsic silver value plus a small premium.

British silver three pence coins were made from sterling silver until 1946, and the value is tied to both the current market price of silver and collector interest.

To check if your coin is valuable, make sure you focus on the year and portrait of the monarch. It's advised to compare your coin to online resources, like Coin Hunter.

And finally, consult a coin dealer who can ultimately give you a definitive valuation.