Reading a UK coin starts with the details that identify it: denomination, date, monarch, design, inscriptions and edge. Record what you can see before comparing the coin with a reference.
Read both faces
Check the portrait, date, denomination and main design on both sides. Note the spelling, lettering, symbols and any small marks. A similar design can appear on more than one date or finish, so do not stop at a broad visual match.
Check the edge
Some coins have a plain edge, while others have lettering, a pattern or a different finish. Photograph the edge and record whether the lettering is clear, damaged or in an unusual orientation. An edge difference needs comparison with known examples before it can be treated as significant.
Record the specification
Write down the diameter, weight and composition if you can establish them safely. Published specifications help narrow down an identification, but measurements alone do not prove authenticity or value.
Marks and symbols
Small symbols can have different meanings. The Royal Mint says a mint mark can help identify where or when a coin was made. A privy mark is a separate symbol used for a particular occasion or issue. See the Royal Mint’s guide to the 2023 definitive coins.
The Tudor Crown privy mark appears on the 2023-dated definitive coin sets and is exclusive to them, according to the Royal Mint’s 2023 Definitive Sets FAQs. Compare a mark with the coin’s date, denomination, design and edge against an issue-specific reference. A mark alone cannot establish rarity, value or authenticity.
Use the UK coin research method after identifying the exact coin. For unusual examples, preserve the coin as found and seek an independent specialist opinion.