£1 Coin Values UK: Old Round Pounds & New 12-Sided
Two very different £1 coins have circulated in Britain since 1983. The old round £1 was demonetised in 2017; a handful are now worth £30+. The new 12-sided £1 from 2017 onwards has one recognised rarity already. Here's the whole picture.
The rarest round £1 coins (1983–2016)
| Design | Year | Mintage | Typical value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | 2011 | 935,000 | £20 – £60 |
| Cardiff | 2011 | 1,615,000 | £12 – £35 |
| London | 2010 | 2,635,000 | £8 – £20 |
| Belfast | 2010 | 6,205,000 | £5 – £12 |
| Royal Shield | 2008 | 3,910,000 | £4 – £8 |
| Wales (Leek) | 1990 | 38,443,575 | £2 – £5 |
The old round pound — can you still spend it?
The round £1 lost legal-tender status on 15 October 2017. In circulation terms that means shops no longer have to accept them. In practice:
- Some banks still let account holders deposit them — check with your bank directly.
- The Post Office previously operated a limited exchange scheme, but this closed in 2020.
- Rare designs (Edinburgh, Cardiff) are worth considerably more than £1 — don't cash them at face value.
The new 12-sided £1 (2017 onwards)
Launched March 2017, the 12-sided £1 was introduced partly to defeat the ~3% counterfeit rate circulating among round pounds. Its security features include a latent hologram image (£/1) that shifts with angle, micro-lettering around the rim, and hidden high-security markings readable only by authenticating machines. For a step-by-step check, see our how to spot a fake £1 coin guide.
The 2016 "Trial Piece" £1
A small number of 2016-dated new £1 coins were given to retail-terminal test labs months before public launch. Some escaped and now trade as collector items at £50–£200 depending on condition. These are legitimate coins (not fakes) but should not normally be in circulation.
Featured £1 coins on MyCoinage
