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This unusual 1983 uncirculated coin set was produced for the H J Heinz Company by The Royal Mint, likely as part of a promotion. The set includes seven uncirculated coins from 1983, including a 10p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p, and 1/2p.
When the first decimal 2p coins were introduced in 1971, they featured the words 'NEW PENCE' to distinguish them from old, pre-decimal coins. This was the standard design until 1982, when the text was changed to 'TWO PENCE'.
In 1983, a very small number of 2ps were made with an old die, leading to coins with the wrong 'NEW PENCE' design on the reverse. These coins should say 'TWO PENCE', which was the standard design from 1982 onwards.
Coin experts call error coins like this 'mules' because they are produced with a mismatched pair of dies, just like a mule is the product of mismatched parents (a horse and a donkey). Modern mule coins are rare and collectable.
It's just these error 1983 'NEW PENCE' 2p coins that are rare and sought after. 2p coins dated between 1971 and 1981 had the 'NEW PENCE' design as standard and were made in their millions, so they are not scarce or valuable.
