Step one: Don't throw away old coins. Ever. Just stop. I mean it. Your grandmother’s “junk” jar could hold a 1916 two-mark coin from the Kingdom of Bavaria. That’s not Germany yet. That’s a dead kingdom. Collectors love dead kingdoms.
Step two: Look at the edges. A normal coin has a smooth or reeded edge. A war coin might have lettering. Like “1914-1918” or “GOTT MIT UNS.” That’s rare. That’s a commemorative. That’s $100+ easy.
UK £2 coins from 2026 back to 1997
Step three: Check the mintmark. A tiny letter under the date. A coin from the Heaton Mint in Birmingham (an “H”) is often rarer than one from London. A 1917 British two-pence with an “H”? That’s a key date. Price? Skyrockets.
The "Fun Fact" You’ll Tell at Parties
Did you know some WWI coins were made from captured enemy artillery shells? Yes. The French melted down German shell casings to make two-franc coins. It’s a literal “turning swords into plowshares” moment. And they stamped it with “1917” and a rooster. The rooster is pecking at a cannon. I am not making this up.
Those “rooster coins” are common but beloved. A nice one? $5-$15. But the story is pure gold. You can hold a piece of recycled war in your hand. That’s wild.
Another gem: The 1918 “Kiwi” penny from New Zealand. It’s a test coin with a kiwi bird on the reverse. Only about 10 exist. One sold for $50,000. No, you won’t find it. But the hope is delicious.
