You don’t need to be a numismatist—fancy word for coin nerd—to find one. Just look at the back of every £2 coin you get. It has a picture of a city on fire, with tall buildings and flames. It’s impossible to miss once you know what you’re looking for. Think of it like the Where’s Wally? of pocket change, but with fire.
Start checking your wallet when you buy a loaf of bread. Check the change from the bus fare. Even ask your mates to check theirs. It becomes a little game. “Got any famous coins today?” becomes a cheerful, low-stakes hobby. It’s a lovely way to bring a bit of curiosity into a mundane Tuesday.
First look: New Royal Mint coin designs for 2016 - Change Checker
A small piece of history you can spend (or keep).
Some people keep these coins in a little box and tell the story to guests. Others accidentally spend them and kick themselves. But here’s the best part: you can actually decide. Spend it? That’s fine, you’ve paid for a sandwich with history. Keep it? Lovely, you now own a tiny monument to human chaos and rebuilding.
The Great Fire of London wasn’t all bad. It helped clear out the plague and gave us a new, safer city. That’s a pretty positive message to carry in your pocket. Every time you jingle it, it’s a reminder that even after a big disaster, things can rise from the ashes—often nicer than before.
So next time you’re paying for milk, pause. Check that £2 coin. If you see flames, you’ve not just found change—you’ve found a story. Keep it, spend it, or pass it on. Just don’t put it in a vending machine without a second glance. That would be like throwing a little piece of London into a crisps packet.
Go on, check your pocket. You might just find 1666 waiting for you.
