Posts Tagged ‘£1 errors’

Since their introduction in 2017, a common query we get is people asking about variations in their 12 sided £1 coins.

Having read David Groom’s fascinating articles in Coin News Magazine, we’ve found the key facts which explain these variations, what to look for, and why they might have occurred.

We know that of the 1.75 billion 12 sided £1 coins struck for circulation between 2016 and 2022, roughly half a billion are dated 2016.

Of course, having such a high mintage figure must lead to varieties in design and quality of striking, however in the Coin News examination of just 40 randomly selected 12 sided £1 coins, an extraordinary number of varieties appeared…

Edges

Perhaps the most talked about variation with the 12 sided £1 is the milling on the edge of the coin, with ‘lefties’ being a common error in the milling process.

Obverses

Groom’s article suggested four clear variations can be found on the obverse of the coin, including the position of the design and text.

Reverses

Groom also highlighted the four clear features of difference on the reverses of the £1 coins.

Misalignment

One of the most common variations seems to be misalignment of the coins, particularly where the outer and inner sections do not align properly.

Dates

We’ve spoken before in our blog about the dual-dated £1 coins, with one such coin being valued at £3,000. Groom also mentions that many examples of the 2016 pound coin have the date numbers very poorly struck, making the date hard to read.

Royal Mint Trial Coins

Trial coins are issued when new coin specifications are being tested, but they should not enter circulation. These coins feature the words ‘The Royal Mint’ and ‘Trial Piece’.

Back in 2018, a 2015 dated trial 12-sided £1 coin sold on eBay for a whopping £500! However, looking at eBay listing in 2025, these coins are selling for much more reasonable prices, with the exception of a 2014 trial coin which sold for £235.

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Whilst there are clearly a number of variations to be found in the 12 sided £1 coins, Coin News suggests that these may arise from off centre striking, or be due to the different characteristics from the two metals of the bimetallic coin.

Have you found an interesting variation in any 12-sided £1 coins you’ve found? Let us know in the comments!

– Credit ‘Up close, the new 12 sided £1 coin’ – David Groom, Coin News, April and May 2018

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