Charles III, £2 (Coronation Silver Britannia) 2023 Brilliant Unc

In 1997 the Royal Mint changed the Two Pound Piece. They made it smaller and they also made it bi-metallic and as with all new designs or types, collectors put them away. Come the next year and 1998 was almost forgotten by collectors. The coin on offer is the collector’s version of the circulating £2 of 1998, but struck in Proof Sterling Silver. To make the coin look like a bi-metallic coin, they gold plated the rim of the coin, so you see gold and silver, similar colours to the circulating issue. This 1998 Silver Proof £2 is not an easy coin to find and many collectors are missing it. An interesting coin almost forgot by collectors sold at the right price.

32mm designed by M. Rizzello Obv. Bust right of Charles. Rev. The Welsh Dragon, legends in Welsh. Mintage 29,000 Uncirculated

Unfortunately, the Silver Piedfort Proof 70 Ultra Cameo examples of this coin are no longer available. But Steve found a few examples of this £5 Silver Piedfort issued in 2019 struck to honour the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria in Proof 69 Ultra Cameo recently. These coins feature the usual portrait of H. M. Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. The reverse, in this case, is perhaps more interesting. It shows the portrait of Queen Victoria as used on her Young Head coinage. A steam train, telephone, steamship, and a Penny Farthing bicycle. All things that were invented in her reign. This crownsized £5 comes in Sterling Silver Piedfort or double the normal thickness. A company in America bought the first coins struck by the Royal Mint and then had them slabbed. These Proof 69 Ultra Cameo, were slabbed not only for the grade but also for the fact that they were one of the first 250 coins struck.