You don’t need to camp outside a bank or pay a fortune on eBay. Seriously. Just start checking your change. Since 2016, these coins have been floating around the UK like confetti at a history convention. Look for the edge inscription. If you see “2016” on the other side and a bunch of tiny buildings melting into a fire, you’ve struck gold—well, nickel-brass-gold.
Elizabeth II 2016 proof Two-Pounds - Great Fire of London | European Coins
And if you find one that’s uncirculated? That means it never touched a pocket. That’s worth maybe a fiver—or, if you’re patient, more. But honestly, the real value is the story you get to tell when you show it to your friends.
A Final, Slightly Ironic Thought
The Great Fire of London destroyed 13,200 houses, 87 churches, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. It also cleared out the plague-infested rats, which is the most morbid silver lining in history. And now we carry a bit of that drama in our wallets, next to a receipt for a sandwich. Think about that next time you’re fumbling for exact change.
So, if you ever spot that little flame peeking out from your pocket, don’t just spend it. Hold it for a second. Let it remind you that even the worst fires—the ones that level everything—can make way for something new. And if you do spend it? Well, maybe you’ll pass that reminder on to someone else. That’s the nicest kind of currency, isn’t it?
Go check your coat pockets. I’ll wait.
