1983 Heinz Uncirculated Coin Collection Annual Set With New Pence 2p

Heinz 1983 Uncirculated Coin Set

This unusual 1983 uncirculated coin set was produced for the H J Heinz Company by The Royal Mint as part of a promotion. The set includes seven coins from 1983, including a 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p, and 1/2p, all sealed inside capsules that are built into a card folio.

New Pence UK 2p Coins

When he first decimal 2p coins were introduced in 1971, they featured the words 'NEW PENCE' on the reverse to distinguish them as part of the new currency. From 1982, the design was tweaked to include the words 'TWO PENCE', above the ostrich feather badge of the Prince of Wales and the number '2'.

1983 New Pence Error Coin

In 1983, a vanishingly small number of 2p coins were minted with an old die, leading to error coins with a 1983 date on the obverse but the wrong 'NEW PENCE' design on the reverse. These coins should say 'TWO PENCE' like the majority 2of p coins minted from 1982 onwards. Numismatists call coins like this 'mules' because they are made with the wrong pair of dies, taking the name from the offspring of a horse and a donkey.

Are New Pence 2p Coins Rare?

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, despite what some unscrupulous eBay sellers may suggest.

Collecting Modern UK Error Coins

It's unknown exactly how many of these Royal Mint sets include a 'New Pence' 2p, but our experience suggests that it is a very small fraction of the total. We receive regular requests for these sets, and the similar 1983 Martini-Rossi set, so it's unlikely that this example will remain available for long.