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How to Spot a Fake £1 Coin (2026 Guide)

The 12-sided £1 was introduced in 2017 specifically because the old round pound had a 3% counterfeit rate. The new coin is far harder to forge — but fakes do exist. Here are the six quick tests you can perform in under 30 seconds.

Last updated: 22 April 2026

The six-point £1 authenticity check

Perform these in sequence. A genuine coin passes all six; a fake typically fails at least two.

1. The hologram test

Hold the coin upright in good light and tilt slightly forward and back. On the reverse (the side with the Royal Shield / new definitive design), look at the small circular hologram image at the bottom. On a genuine coin this image alternates between the "£" symbol and the number "1" as you tilt. On a fake, the image either doesn't change, is blurry/smudged, or is clearly printed rather than holographic.

2. Edge milling

The 12 sides of a genuine £1 each have a specific edge texture: alternating smooth and milled flats. Run a fingernail around the edge — you should feel six milled sections and six smooth sections. Fakes typically have either all-milled edges (older forgery style) or poorly defined edges where the 12 sides are unevenly machined.

3. Weight

A genuine £1 weighs 8.75g ± 0.05g. A kitchen scale accurate to 0.1g is sufficient. Fakes are often 0.3–0.8g light because counterfeiters use cheaper base metals that don't match the bimetallic density of genuine nickel-plated brass + nickel-plated alloy.

4. Diameter and thickness

Diameter: 23.43mm point-to-point across the 12-sided shape. Thickness: 2.8mm. Measure with a digital caliper if you have one — phone caliper apps are not accurate enough. Fakes vary more than genuine coins due to cruder tooling.

5. Lettering and design detail

Look at the inscription around the obverse (portrait) and the reverse. Genuine £1 coins have extremely crisp lettering — every serif, curve and decorative detail is sharply defined. Fakes look slightly "soft" — the lettering has rounded edges or slight blurs, the portrait's face appears less defined, and the Royal Shield or plant motif on the reverse lacks fine detail.

6. Colour and tone

The outer yellow-brass ring should have a warm, even golden-yellow colour. The inner silver-coloured centre should be a bright nickel-white. Fakes often show inconsistent colour — yellow that leans green or brass-brown, or a centre that looks grey or slightly orange. Over time, both fakes and genuine coins tarnish, but the tone difference is usually still visible.

Industry tip: retail tills and vending machines use the hidden high-security feature (not visible to the human eye) as their primary check. A coin that passes your six visual tests but is rejected by machines is still suspect — it's failed the hidden test that only the Bank of England and Royal Mint publish.

The old round pound — always a fake by 2026

Any round £1 coin presented as legal tender today is effectively obsolete. The round pound was withdrawn on 15 October 2017. Some banks still let their own account holders deposit them (check first), but no shop is obliged to accept them.

Don't assume round pounds are worthless: rare designs like the 2011 Edinburgh and Cardiff £1 trade at £20–£60 each, and the undated trial piece from 2016 can reach £200.

What to do with a fake £1

  1. Don't try to spend it. Passing on a known fake is a criminal offence under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.
  2. Take it to a bank or police station. Any high-street bank will withdraw it for destruction; no refund, but no penalty on you.
  3. Report the source if possible. If you can identify where you received it, note the shop, date and time — police counterfeit units investigate clusters.
  4. Check your other coins. Fakes usually come in groups — if one is counterfeit, so may be others from the same source.

Sources & further reading

FAQ

Are fake £1 coins still in circulation?
Old round-pound fakes are essentially gone — they were withdrawn from legal tender on 15 October 2017. However, 12-sided £1 counterfeits have started appearing since 2019. The Bank of England estimates fakes make up less than 0.3% of the 12-sided £1 population, compared to roughly 3% of old round pounds at peak.
What should I do with a fake £1 I find?
Do not pass it on — that is illegal. Take it to your local police station (non-urgent) or a high-street bank, who will usually withdraw it from circulation without penalty to you. The bank won't refund a fake coin but will dispose of it securely.
Is the 12-sided £1 really harder to forge?
Yes. It combines four anti-counterfeit features: bimetallic construction, 12-sided shape with milled edges, a hologram that shifts between £ and 1, and hidden high-security markings readable only by verification machines. Counterfeiting all four simultaneously requires industrial equipment — making it uneconomic for casual forgers.
Can I spend an old round £1 in 2026?
No. Round pounds lost legal-tender status on 15 October 2017. Some banks still accept them on deposit from existing account holders, but shops are not obliged to take them. Rare designs (Edinburgh, Cardiff) are worth much more than face value — don't assume they're worthless. See our £1 coin values guide.
Does the Royal Mint compensate for fake coins?
No. Neither the Royal Mint nor the Bank of England refunds the face value of counterfeit coins — the loss falls on whoever is caught holding it when it's identified. Always check change before accepting it.

More coin-value guides