Spink
Auction 21171 6 Jan 2022
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The Holy Grail of Bimetallic Errors' | MINT ERROR MS64 DPL | Elizabeth II (1952 -), 'First World War Centenary' Two-Pounds, 2016, 'Pals Battalions', on a monometallic nickel-brass planchet (76% Cu; 4% Ni; 20% Zn), fifth crowned head right, by Jody Clark, rev. stylised silhouettes of the British Army 'Tommies', by John Bergdahl, FOR KING AND COUNTRY milled edge upwards, 12.00g, 12h (cf. Spink K41), some slight friction and a dragmark by ear, otherwise brilliant, practically as struck, a truly astonishing and nigh-on inconceivable mint error, presumed UNIQUE, in NGC holder, graded MS64 DEEP PROOFLIKE (Cert. #6135243-001).
Evidently removed from a Specimen 'Annual Year Set' of which only 19,066 sets were issued by the Royal Mint for 2016.
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The likelihood of a monometallic planchet meeting the final £2 dies is infinitesimally small given the additional procedures employed in their production with separated creations of the outer nickel-brass ring and cupro-nickel central planchet before marriage at striking. To date only five or six monometallic Two Pound coins have been authenticated by the Royal Mint in almost a quarter of a century of their production and a cumulative mintage figure for the denomination standing at over half a billion coins* during this period. ChangeChecker reports on at least two of the other known examples, both of the reused Rushin 'Technological Developments' definitive dated 2007 and 2008. The excessive rarity of this error is therefore only further enhanced by its distinction as one of the few if not the only example known of the 2016 WW1 Commemorative. As the impact of COVID restrictions have reawakened a burning desire for numismatics, modern rarities of this nature should become the serious consideration of every rarity hunter and long-term prospecting collector, especially as the quality control of the Royal Mint constantly ensures dramatic errors such of this nature are kept to an absolute bare minimum.
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*Royal Mint Records (Sourced April 2021) state: 557,532,588 currency pieces struck by 2016.
Estimate: £600 - £1000
Evidently removed from a Specimen 'Annual Year Set' of which only 19,066 sets were issued by the Royal Mint for 2016.
,
The likelihood of a monometallic planchet meeting the final £2 dies is infinitesimally small given the additional procedures employed in their production with separated creations of the outer nickel-brass ring and cupro-nickel central planchet before marriage at striking. To date only five or six monometallic Two Pound coins have been authenticated by the Royal Mint in almost a quarter of a century of their production and a cumulative mintage figure for the denomination standing at over half a billion coins* during this period. ChangeChecker reports on at least two of the other known examples, both of the reused Rushin 'Technological Developments' definitive dated 2007 and 2008. The excessive rarity of this error is therefore only further enhanced by its distinction as one of the few if not the only example known of the 2016 WW1 Commemorative. As the impact of COVID restrictions have reawakened a burning desire for numismatics, modern rarities of this nature should become the serious consideration of every rarity hunter and long-term prospecting collector, especially as the quality control of the Royal Mint constantly ensures dramatic errors such of this nature are kept to an absolute bare minimum.
, ,
*Royal Mint Records (Sourced April 2021) state: 557,532,588 currency pieces struck by 2016.
Estimate: £600 - £1000