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UK Key Date Coins

Every coin in the catalogue flagged as a key date, the rarest issue in its series, the one that anchors any complete-set attempt. 194 coins, 47 with realised auction prices. As of 4 September 2026.

What is a key date? The rarest issue in a coin series, usually because of a low mintage, a one-year design change, or a wartime production cut. Key dates carry a disproportionate share of a series’ total value and are the toughest pieces to source for a complete set. We flag them editorially against Royal Mint mintage figures and historical scarcity data, then refresh prices nightly from realised eBay UK and auction-house sales.
⭐

Top 6 most valuable key dates

Highest realised prices across every UK key date we track
5 Pounds - Victoria 1st portrait; 'Una and the Lion'
1839
£349,800 PR-65
Key date
5 Pounds - Victoria 3rd portrait
1893
£106,000 PR-65
Key date
2 Pounds - William IV
1831
£74,200 PR-65
Key date
5 Pounds - Victoria 2nd portrait
1887
£48,760 UNC
Key date
1 Crown - Victoria Pattern
1837
£42,400 MS-64
Key date
1 Crown - William IV
1831
£39,000 PR-65
Key date
🪙

Gold sovereigns & half sovereigns

20 key dates
2 Pounds - William IV
1831
£74,200 PR-65
Mintage
225
1 Sovereign - Victoria 2nd portrait
1887 · Sovereign
£3,750 PR-65
Mintage
797
2 Pounds - George VI
1937
£3,020 PR-65
Mintage
1
½ Sovereign - Victoria 2nd portrait
1887 · Half Sovereign
£2,995 MS-66
Mintage
797
1 Sovereign - George VI
1937 · Sovereign
£2,800 PR-64
Mintage
1
2 Pounds - Victoria 2nd portrait
1887
£2,600 BU
Mintage
797
½ Sovereign - George VI
1937 · Half Sovereign
£1,900 PR-66
Mintage
1
2 Pounds - Victoria 3rd portrait
1893
£1,858 VF
Mintage
773
1 Sovereign - Elizabeth II 5th portrait; Prince Albert Bicentenary
2019 · Sovereign
£1,400 MS-70
Mintage
647
1 Sovereign - Victoria 3rd portrait
1893 · Sovereign
£1,065 BU
Mintage
737
½ Sovereign - Victoria 3rd portrait
1893 · Half Sovereign
£595 MS-62
Mintage
773
¼ Sovereign - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; Diamond Jubilee
2012 · Jubilee Commemoratives
£365 PR-69
Mintage
137
5 Sovereigns - Charles III Queen Elizabeth II Memorial
2022 · Sovereign
No realised price yet
Mintage
661
1 Sovereign - Elizabeth II 5th portrait; Queen Victoria Bicentenary
2019 · Sovereign
No realised price yet
Mintage
649
1 Sovereign - Elizabeth II 5th portrait; Sapphire Coronation
2018 · Coronation Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
323
5 Sovereigns - Elizabeth II Sapphire Coronation
2018 · Coronation Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
459
2 Sovereigns - Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee
2012 · Jubilee Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
119
5 Sovereigns - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; Diamond Jubilee
2012 · Jubilee Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
496
1 Sovereign - Edward VII Ottawa mint
1908 · Sovereign
No realised price yet
Mintage
636
2 Pounds - George IV Shield reverse
1824
No realised price yet
Mintage
450
🟡

Rare 50p key dates

60 key dates
50 Pence - Elizabeth II Beatrix Potter; Gold Proof
2016 · Beatrix Potter 50p
£1,895 PR-65
Mintage
732
50 Pence - Elizabeth II The Gruffalo; Gold Proof
2019
£1,639 PR-65
Mintage
599
50 Pence - Elizabeth II Kew Gardens; Silver Piedfort
2019 · Kew Gardens 50p
£329 PR-65
Mintage
569
50 Pence - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; Battle of Britain Silver Piedfort
2015 · WWII & D-Day Commemoratives
£80 VF
Mintage
434
50 Pence - Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee; Gold Piedfort
2022 · Jubilee Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
70
50 Pence - Elizabeth II XXII Commonwealth Games; Gold Proof
2022 · Commonwealth Games
No realised price yet
Mintage
247
50 Pence - Elizabeth II XXII Commonwealth Games; Platinum Proof
2022 · Commonwealth Games
No realised price yet
Mintage
28
50 Pence - Elizabeth II Winnie The Pooh and Friends; Gold Proof
2022
No realised price yet
Mintage
136
50 Pence - Elizabeth II BBC Centenary; Gold Proof
2022
No realised price yet
Mintage
344
50 Pence - Elizabeth II The Snowman and The Snowdog; Gold Proof
2022
No realised price yet
Mintage
120
50 Pence - Elizabeth II 5th Portrait; Decimalisation Anniversary Gold Piedfort
2021
No realised price yet
Mintage
199
50 Pence - Elizabeth II 5th portrait; Decimalisation Anniversary Gold Proof
2021
No realised price yet
Mintage
461
50 Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait; Decimalisation Anniversary Gold Proof
2021
No realised price yet
Mintage
99
50 Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait; Decimalisation Anniversary Silver Piedfort
2021
No realised price yet
Mintage
300
50 Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait; Decimalisation Anniversary Silver Proof
2021
No realised price yet
Mintage
539
50 Pence - Elizabeth II Winnie The Pooh; Gold Proof
2021
No realised price yet
Mintage
151
50 Pence - Elizabeth II The Snowman; Gold Proof
2021
No realised price yet
Mintage
131
50 Pence - Elizabeth II Peter Rabbit; Gold Proof
2020 · Beatrix Potter 50p
No realised price yet
Mintage
278
50 Pence - Elizabeth II The Snowman; Gold Proof
2020
No realised price yet
Mintage
259
50 Pence - Elizabeth II Team GB Olympics 2020; Gold Proof
2020
No realised price yet
Mintage
75
50 Pence - Elizabeth II Scouting Movement; Gold Piedfort
2019
No realised price yet
Mintage
50
50 Pence - Elizabeth II Scouting Movement; Gold Proof
2019
No realised price yet
Mintage
71
50 Pence - Elizabeth II Scouting Movement; Silver Piedfort
2019
No realised price yet
Mintage
569
50 Pence - Elizabeth II Kew Gardens; Gold Piedfort
2019 · Kew Gardens 50p
No realised price yet
Mintage
50
+ 36 more, browse all in catalogue →
🪙

Rare £2 key dates

8 key dates
2 Pounds - Elizabeth II 5th portrait; 25th Anniversary £2
2022
£14 BU
Mintage
330
2 Pounds - Charles III Flying Scotsman Centenary; Gold Proof
2023
No realised price yet
Mintage
423
2 Pounds - Charles III Flying Scotsman Centenary; Silver Piedfort
2023
No realised price yet
Mintage
349
2 Pounds - Elizabeth II 25th Anniversary £2; Gold Proof
2022
No realised price yet
Mintage
213
2 Pounds - Elizabeth II 25th Anniversary £2; Silver Piedfort
2022
No realised price yet
Mintage
918
2 Pounds - Elizabeth II D-Day Anniversary; Gold Proof
2019 · WWII & D-Day Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
558
2 Pounds - Elizabeth II Olympic Handover; Gold Proof
2012
No realised price yet
Mintage
771
2 Pounds - George III Pattern
1820
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
👑

£5 crown key dates

21 key dates
5 Pounds - Victoria 1st portrait; 'Una and the Lion'
1839
£349,800 PR-65
Mintage
400
5 Pounds - Victoria 3rd portrait
1893
£106,000 PR-65
Mintage
773
5 Pounds - Victoria 2nd portrait
1887
£48,760 UNC
Mintage
797
5 Pounds - George VI
1937
£12,013 UNC
Mintage
1
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II Sapphire Anniversary; Gold Proof
2018
£5,925 VF
Mintage
475
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II War Memorials; Gold Proof
2018
No realised price yet
Mintage
25
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II War Memorials; Silver Proof
2018
No realised price yet
Mintage
693
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II Sapphire Jubilee; Gold Proof
2017 · Jubilee Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
697
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; Coronation Jubilee Gold Proof
2013 · Coronation Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
148
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; Coronation Jubilee Silver Piedfort
2013 · Coronation Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
697
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait; Coronation Jubilee Gold Proof
2013 · Coronation Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
148
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait; Coronation Jubilee Silver Piedfort
2013 · Coronation Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
697
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II 3rd portrait; Coronation Jubilee Gold Proof
2013 · Coronation Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
148
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II 3rd portrait; Coronation Jubilee Silver Piedfort
2013 · Coronation Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
697
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; Coronation Jubilee Gold Proof
2013 · Coronation Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
148
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; Coronation Jubilee Silver Piedfort
2013 · Coronation Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
697
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II 60th Coronation Jubilee; Gold Proof
2013 · Coronation Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
477
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II 60th Coronation Jubilee; Platinum Piedfort
2013 · Coronation Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
106
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee; Platinum Piedfort
2012 · Jubilee Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
20
5 Pounds - George IV
1826
No realised price yet
Mintage
150
5 Pounds - George III Pattern
1820
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
🪙

Pre-decimal pennies & halfpennies

18 key dates
1 Penny - George V modified effigy
1926
£128 EF
Mintage
1,927
1 Penny - Edward VII
1902
£61 EF
Mintage
3
1 Penny - George V
1911
£31 UNC
Mintage
2
½ Penny - George VI with 'IND:IMP'
1937
£3 VF
Mintage
4
½ Penny - George V 1st portrait
1911
£2 VF
Mintage
2
1 Penny - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; without 'BRITT:OMN'
1954
No realised price yet
Mintage
1
1 Penny - Elizabeth II Maundy pre-decimal; 2nd issue
1954 · Maundy Money
No realised price yet
Mintage
964
½ Penny - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; with 'BRITT:OMN'
1953
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
1 Penny - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; with 'BRITT:OMN'
1953
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
½ Penny - George VI without 'IND:IMP'
1949
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
1 Penny - George VI without 'IND:IMP'
1949
No realised price yet
Mintage
1
1 Penny - George VI with 'IND:IMP'
1937
No realised price yet
Mintage
4
1 Penny - George V smaller portrait
1928
No realised price yet
Mintage
7
1 Penny - Victoria 2nd portrait; 2nd type
1874
No realised price yet
Mintage
1
1 Penny - Victoria 2nd portrait; 1st type
1860
No realised price yet
Mintage
1
1 Penny - Victoria 1st portrait; bronzed
1839
No realised price yet
Mintage
300
1 Penny - George III 4th Issue
1806
No realised price yet
Mintage
1
½ Penny Warwickshire - Birmingham / Clarke's
1795
No realised price yet
Mintage
36
⚪

Pre-decimal silver

38 key dates
5 Shillings - Elizabeth II Coronation
1953 · Coronation Commemoratives
£89 MS-65
Mintage
2
1 Shilling - George II Older bust
1743
£55 BU
Mintage
100
3 Pence - George VI with 'IND:IMP'
1937
£45 VF
Mintage
4
5 Shillings - George VI Festival of Britain
1951
£22 AG
Mintage
2
1 Shilling - Victoria 2nd portrait; 2nd type
1889
£15 VF
Mintage
1,890
1 Florin - George V 2nd issue
1920
£12 VF
Mintage
2
2 Shillings - George VI with 'IND:IMP'
1937
£12 EF
Mintage
2
1 Shilling - George VI Scottish crest; with 'IND:IMP'
1937
£11 VF
Mintage
2
1 Shilling - George V 4th type
1927
£9 G
Mintage
2
5 Shillings - Elizabeth II British Exhibition
1960
£8 VF
Mintage
50
1 Shilling - George V 2nd type
1920
£5 VF
Mintage
2
3 Pence - Elizabeth II Maundy pre-decimal; 2nd issue
1954 · Maundy Money
No realised price yet
Mintage
964
3 Pence - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; with 'BRITT:OMN'
1953
No realised price yet
Mintage
4
6 Pence - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; with 'BRITT:OMN'
1953
No realised price yet
Mintage
4
1 Shilling - Elizabeth II English shield; with 'BRITT:OMN'
1953
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
1 Shilling - Elizabeth II Scottish shield; with 'BRITT:OMN'
1953
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
2 Shillings - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; with 'BRITT:OMN'
1953
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
3 Pence - George VI without 'IND:IMP'
1949
No realised price yet
Mintage
4
6 Pence - George VI 3rd coinage
1949
No realised price yet
Mintage
4
1 Shilling - George VI Scottish crest; without 'IND:IMP'
1949
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
1 Shilling - George VI English crest; without 'IND:IMP'
1949
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
2 Shillings - George VI without 'IND:IMP'
1949
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
3 Pence - George VI incl. Colonial
1937
No realised price yet
Mintage
4
6 Pence - George VI 1st coinage
1937
No realised price yet
Mintage
4
+ 14 more, browse all in catalogue →
👑

Crowns and farthings

20 key dates
1 Crown - Victoria Pattern
1837
£42,400 MS-64
Mintage
150
1 Crown - William IV
1831
£39,000 PR-65
Mintage
100
1 Crown - Victoria 'Gothic' type
1847
£2,557 PR-58
Mintage
460
1 Crown - George V 'Wreath' Crown
1927
£364 AG
Mintage
2
1 Crown - Edward VIII Pattern
1936
£180 UNC
Mintage
300
1 Farthing - George VI with 'IND:IMP'
1937
£21 UNC
Mintage
4
½ Crown - George VI 1st type
1937
£17 VF
Mintage
2
1 Farthing - George V
1911
£11 VF
Mintage
2
1 Farthing - George IV 2nd issue
1826
£8 VF
Mintage
1,827
1 Farthing - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; with 'BRITT:OMN'
1953
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
½ Crown - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; with 'BRITT:OMN'
1953
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
1 Farthing - George VI without 'IND:IMP'
1949
No realised price yet
Mintage
4
½ Crown - George VI 3rd type; no 'IND:IMP'
1949
No realised price yet
Mintage
1
½ Crown - Edward VIII New strike pattern
1936
No realised price yet
Mintage
499
1 Crown - George V Silver Jubilee; Gold Proof Pattern
1935 · Jubilee Commemoratives
No realised price yet
Mintage
30
½ Crown - George V 4th type
1927
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
½ Crown - George V 2nd type
1920
No realised price yet
Mintage
2
1 Crown - Victoria Spink and Son Pattern; Gold
1887
No realised price yet
Mintage
6
½ Crown - George II Older bust
1743
No realised price yet
Mintage
100
1 Crown - George II Older bust
1743
No realised price yet
Mintage
100
✨

Other key dates

9 key dates
2 Pence - Elizabeth II Maundy pre-decimal; 2nd issue
1954 · Maundy Money
No realised price yet
Mintage
980
4 Pence - Elizabeth II Maundy pre-decimal; 2nd issue
1954 · Maundy Money
No realised price yet
Mintage
964
4 Pence - George III Maundy issues
1817 · Maundy Money
No realised price yet
Mintage
990
1 Guinea - George III Pattern
1813
No realised price yet
Mintage
5
1 Guinea - George III Pattern
1798
No realised price yet
Mintage
10
1 Guinea - George III Pattern
1791
No realised price yet
Mintage
5
2 Pence - George III incl. Maundy
1763 · Maundy Money
No realised price yet
Mintage
20
4 Pence - George III incl. Maundy
1763 · Maundy Money
No realised price yet
Mintage
20
2 Guineas - George II Pattern
1733
No realised price yet
Mintage
10
Related

More browse indexes

Most valuable UK coins Top 100 by realised auction price. Coins by monarch Charles III back through Victoria and earlier reigns. Coins by series Every series A–Z with coin counts. Coins by year Every minting year with catalogue coverage. Fastest rising 30-day Realised-price climbers across the catalogue. Top 25 rare UK coins The flagship rare-coin ranking guide.