Check your change for rare €2 coin with detail that makes it worth a lot more money

Don’t spend your loose change before having a look around for this rare €2 coin that could be worth a lot more money than the number dictated on the face

Keep your eyes peeled for this €2 coin(Image: artas via Getty Images)

Before you spend your loose change, it’s worth taking a few minutes to see if there are any coins in there that could be more valuable than they seem at first glance. After all, they could end up being worth a pretty penny!

This is definitely the case when it comes to this rare €2 coin from 2002, which could fetch around €50 at auction. So here are the all-important details you need to keep an eye out for.

This particular coin harks back to Ireland’s inaugural year of euro adoption. It stands out for both its artistic design and pioneering technical elements.

Similar to all Irish euro currency, the national face was crafted by renowned engraver Jarlath Hayes and showcases the emblematic Celtic harp, a timeless and immediately recognisable emblem of Ireland’s cultural heritage. The harp occupies the coin’s centre, bordered by “Éire” to the left and the minting year, 2002, to the right.

Encircling this central area are the 12 stars representing the European Union, intended to symbolise harmony amongst all member nations.

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Whilst the artwork largely stayed unchanged, collectors are known to scrutinise minor differences from those initial euro periods.

The standard face of the €2 coin is uniform throughout the eurozone, though two separate versions exist.

Currency produced from 2002 to 2006 displays an earlier European map with fewer boundary lines shown, rendering these early specimens especially appealing to collectors hunting for these pieces.

Although most 2002 Irish €2 coins stay commonplace, those in pristine condition, from initial production batches or bearing slight minting anomalies, such as raised edges or incorrectly printed designs, can fetch higher prices on collector platforms.

On eBay, we discovered coins selling for nearly €50, with those featuring misprints occasionally commanding figures exceeding three times that amount.

How to spot rare coins

1. Check the year and mint mark – Some years have lower mintages, making coins from those years rarer. Look for mint marks or special symbols that indicate a limited edition or a specific mint.

2. Look for commemorative and special editions – Each eurozone country issues 2-euro commemorative coins, often in limited quantities. Some of these are highly sought after – such as the 2007 Monaco 2-euro ‘Grace Kelly’ piece.

3. Examine the country of origin – Coins from smaller countries (Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, Andorra) are produced in much smaller numbers. Coins from these countries found in circulation are often rare and valuable.

4. Check for errors or misprints – Coins with minting errors (double strikes, off-centre designs, missing elements) can be very valuable. So, be sure to compare your coin to standard images to spot anomalies.

5. Get the coins assessed – You can book an appointment with an expert or use apps and online searches to see if the pieces are valuable.