1980 £2 coin

pattycake

I have recently acquired a £2 coin which is dated 1980. I know the £2 coin did not come into circulation until much later. The coin has the Queen on one side and the Scottish thistle on the other.

Can anyone tell me if this is a collectable item and if not, is it legal tender?
Thank you.

POSSETTE

mmm.dont know but interested..try phoning a bank,and not actually going into one or they will ask to see it then probably take it from you and dispose of it.

frivolous_fay

This one? It's 1986 though.

http://www.ukcoinpics.co.uk/dec/200/2pd86r.jpg

Values here
http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/values/decnb.html

lightisfading

POSSETTE wrote: »

mmm.dont know but interested..try phoning a bank,and not actually going into one or they will ask to see it then probably take it from you and dispose of it.

I don't see why they would 'take it from you and dispose of it' - that's generally reserved for counterfeits, not old coins!

heskpesk

pattycake wrote: »

I have recently acquired a £2 coin which is dated 1980. I know the £2 coin did not come into circulation until much later. The coin has the Queen on one side and the Scottish thistle on the other.

Can anyone tell me if this is a collectable item and if not, is it legal tender?
Thank you.

Ill give you £1.50 for it??:rotfl:

Sooziesu

pattycake wrote: »

I have recently acquired a £2 coin which is dated 1980. I know the £2 coin did not come into circulation until much later. The coin has the Queen on one side and the Scottish thistle on the other.

Can anyone tell me if this is a collectable item and if not, is it legal tender?
Thank you.

The first £2 pound coin issued was in 1986 to commemerate the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. Is there an inscription on the side of the coin?
HTH

TurkishDelight

lightisfading wrote: »

I don't see why they would 'take it from you and dispose of it' - that's generally reserved for counterfeits, not old coins!

Because the £2 coin wasn't released until 1986 so if it is 1980 it is a counterfeit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C2%A32#The_commemorative_coin_.281986.E2.80.931996.29

Earliest £2 coin sounds like yours OP but it is 1986

RFW

TurkishDelight wrote: »

Because the £2 coin wasn't released until 1986 so if it is 1980 it is a counterfeit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C2%A32#The_commemorative_coin_.281986.E2.80.931996.29

Earliest £2 coin sounds like yours OP but it is 1986

Try 1823!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_pounds_(British_pre-decimal_coin)

They were produced in sets which occasionally get split up as one or other coin in the set is worth more than the set combined.

There were £2 coins in gold in 1980 in this set http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1980-UK-GOLD-PROOF-SOVEREIGN-SET-COLLECTION-BOX-COA-FDC_W0QQitemZ250377259873QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Coins_Bullion_Bars_SM?hash=item250377259873&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1684|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

so you could have something worth a bit more than £2!

TurkishDelight

RFW wrote: »

Try 1823!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_pounds_(British_pre-decimal_coin)

They were produced in sets which occasionally get split up as one or other coin in the set is worth more than the set combined.

There were £2 coins in gold in 1980 in this set http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1980-UK-GOLD-PROOF-SOVEREIGN-SET-COLLECTION-BOX-COA-FDC_W0QQitemZ250377259873QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Coins_Bullion_Bars_SM?hash=item250377259873&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1684|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

so you could have something worth a bit more than £2!

Pre-decimal from wiki (and also page doesn't exist )

The ebay link is a gold proof set not general circulation but I take your point- doesn't have thistles or anything though- it does sound like the OP has a commonwealth games one... except for the date. :think:

Curious_George_2

could it be one of those coins they used to release every now and again to celebrate something?
like the £5 coins that get made every few years, maybe its a £2 version of that before they became an every day item

pattycake

Sooziesu wrote: »

The first £2 pound coin issued was in 1986 to commemerate the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. Is there an inscription on the side of the coin?
HTH

Thank you all for your replies. Now I look closer, yes it is 1986 not 1980 (should have gone to Specsavers :rotfl:). I had not thought to look round the edge but you are quite right, it is to commemerate the Commonwealth Games.

I think I will put it away safely and hope it goes up in value. Better than my savings in the Nationwide anyway!