Best coin you've ever found below spot price?

19 February 2026

We've all had that moment - you're browsing a dealer's tray at a coin fair, scrolling through an online listing late at night, or rummaging through a charity shop... and you spot something that makes you do a double take. What's the best coin you've ever picked up below spot price? Could be gold, silver, whatever - I want to hear your best bargain stories. I'll go first. Picked up a 1966 full Sovereign at a car boot sale last year for £280 when spot was around £340. The seller had no idea what it was worth - just said it was "an old coin from my grandad." Nearly fell over. Drop your best finds below!

Discussion

Got a 1oz silver Maple Leaf at a charity shop for £8 about three years ago. The lady behind the counter thought it was a novelty coin. I felt slightly guilty but not enough to correct her.
Not quite below spot but I picked up 10 mixed date Britannias from a local dealer for spot + 2% because he was clearing old stock. Normally they go for spot + 8-10% minimum. Sometimes it pays to have a good relationship with your local dealer.
Estate sale last summer. Full tube of 25 silver Britannias for £400. The family had no idea what they were sitting on. I actually went back and offered them a bit more afterwards because it felt wrong paying that little.
Oh, tell me about it! My 'retirement fund' is practically a buried pirate hoard. Once snagged a Gold Sovereign for beer money, tucked away in an old teacup at a jumble sale.
Still chasing that elusive below-spot silver coin. My actual best find is the amount my floorboards have dropped trying to house all my silver!
A Sovereign for beer money, you jammy git! Thought I was clever diversifying into silver once; quickly learned nothing beats solid gold, especially our classics.
Mate, I snagged a Britannia at a decent price back in '08. That initial discount pales compared to its long-term gains. Just stack it and forget it.
Remember buying my '08 Britannia at £550. That initial below-spot saving was dwarfed by the £3000 gain since. The long game always pays.