Rare A to Z 10p Coins: Which Letters to Look For in Your Change
In 2018 the Royal Mint put 26 new 10p designs into circulation, one for every letter of the alphabet, each celebrating something “quintessentially British”. A for the Angel of the North, B for James Bond, Q for queuing (of course). They called it the Great British Coin Hunt, and suddenly people were checking their change again.
Some of those letters are much rarer than others. If you’ve got a jar of coppers and silvers sitting about, here’s which ones to look for, and an honest word on what they’re worth.
The two years that matter
The A to Z 10p coins were released in circulation in two batches, dated 2018 and 2019. The date is on the coin’s other side, next to the monarch’s portrait, and it makes a big difference.
2018: all the same
Every 2018 letter had the same circulation mintage: 220,000 coins each. Change Checker, working from Royal Mint figures, puts the 2018 and 2019 total for the rarest letters at 283,000 each, which matches (Change Checker). No 2018 letter is rarer than another by numbers.
2019: where the rare ones are
The 2019 batch was much smaller, and not equal. The Royal Mint confirms W, Y and Z at 63,000 each, R at 64,000 and the other letters at 84,000 (Royal Mint); the Queuing figure of 83,000 comes from Change Checker.
| Letter | Design | 2019 mintage |
|---|---|---|
| W | World Wide Web | 63,000 |
| Y | Yeoman Warder | 63,000 |
| Z | Zebra Crossing | 63,000 |
| R | Robin | 64,000 |
| Q | Queuing | 83,000 |
| All other letters | 84,000 |
So the rarest A to Z 10p coins by mintage are the 2019 W, Y and Z, with the 2019 Robin close behind.
For context, that’s far lower than the famous Kew Gardens 50p, which had a circulation mintage of 210,000 (Change Checker). The Royal Mint itself calls the 2019 W, Y and Z “the lowest-mintage 10p coins to date”. If you’ve read our rare 50p coins guide, you’ll know how much fuss that coin gets.
How to check your coins
1. Look at the letter side
Each design shows a big letter with a little picture. The Royal Mint says W represents the World Wide Web, Y features a Yeoman Warder (a “Beefeater” at the Tower of London) and Z depicts a zebra crossing (Royal Mint).
2. Flip it and check the date
A 2019 W, Y or Z is the find. A 2018 version of the same letter is far more common.
3. Check the condition
Coins that have been in circulation get scratched and worn. Collectors pay more for clean, sharp coins, so if you find a good one, keep it out of the jar.
Keeping your finds safe: a simple coin album or a few capsules stops them getting scratched. Ad: A to Z 10p coin collector albums and Ad: 24.5mm coin capsules (10p size).
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What are they actually worth?
Here’s the honest bit. A low mintage doesn’t automatically mean big money.
- 63,000 coins is rare by modern standards, but that’s still 63,000 people who could own one.
- Coin dealers and collector sites value circulated A to Z 10p coins in the pounds, not the hundreds. As a rough guide, one collector site, Coin Hunter, has estimated a full set of circulated 2019 coins at roughly £100 (Coin Hunter). That’s one estimate, not a price guarantee, and it works out at a few pounds per coin.
- You’ll see eBay listings asking for silly money. Asking prices aren’t selling prices. Look at sold listings to see what people actually pay.
The Royal Mint also sold collector (uncirculated) versions of these coins. Those aren’t counted in the circulation figures, so a shiny one from a pack isn’t the same as one found in your change.
Is it worth hunting?
As a hobby, yes. It costs nothing to check your change, it’s fun with kids, and finishing a 26-letter set is satisfying. As an investment, be realistic: you’re more likely to make a few pounds than a fortune.
Told straight
The rarest A to Z 10p coins are the 2019 World Wide Web, Yeoman Warder and Zebra Crossing, at 63,000 each, followed by the 2019 Robin at 64,000. Every 2018 letter is equally common. Check the date, look after the condition, and judge value on sold prices, not hopeful listings.
Mintage figures from the Royal Mint and Change Checker, checked November 2026. Values change, so check sold listings before buying or selling.
