The Penny Drops - The Great British Treasure Hunt 2026

What exactly is The Great British Treasure Hunt?

In an exciting new twist for UK coinage, The Royal Mint have released The Great British Treasure Hunt, a nationwide codebreaking puzzle inspired by Sir Isaac Newton. The one-of-a-kind treasure hunt is packed with clues, puzzles and secret mechanisms to be discovered over a number of weeks, with each completion unlocking the next level.

The initial week of puzzles is available to anyone through The Royal Mint's web portal, however, once complete the coin becomes your key to unlocking following levels.

Those who complete the final level of The Hunt will be entered into a draw and be in the running for a chance to win a 250g Gold Bar from The Royal Mint themselves, currently worth over £30,000.

It is worth to note The Royal Mint's entry guidelines found at the bottom of the web portal: *The Great British Treasure Hunt competition is open to residents of the United Kingdom who are 18 years of age or older. Prize value subject to change by the time the winner is in receipt of the prize, including as a result of fluctuations in metal pricing. Entries close 30 March 2026. See Terms and Conditions for more information.

Further information regarding the Treasure Hunt can be found on The Royal Mint's FAQ page for the Hunt.

The Coin is the Key

As mentioned above, after the first level of puzzles is completed, the coin becomes your key to unlocking the following puzzles, both figuratively and literally. The coin features a number of visual and tactile clues to assist on your puzzle journey, with the reverse design taking inspiration from Sir Isaac Newton's time as both the Warden and eventually, Master of the Mint as well as his prominence in World Science.

Included with each The Penny Drops £5 Base Metal coin is an envelope including a code which can be linked to your Royal Mint login, granting access to participate in the further Treasure Hunt levels. Also inside the envelope is a collection of puzzle-solving materials, including lenticular sheet and mirrored card.

Proof Editions

Alongside the exciting release of the Treasure Hunt and its BU Base Metal key, are two proof variants of the coin. Released on £5 coins and available as both proof gold or proof silver, these coins commemorate this groundbreaking release and are sure to be of interest to collectors and numismatists, being the first Royal Mint proof release to feature a latent image in the centre of the coin.

Sir Isaac Newton

The Great British Treasure Hunt and coin itself are inspired by renowned scientist, Sir Isaac Newton.

Rising to prominence in the late 17th century, Sir Issac Newton was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, author and inventor. As his title and roles suggest, he was a highly respected figure and at the centre of multiple world-changing scientific discoveries including the laws of motion, gravity and the light spectrum.

In 1696, Sir Isaac Newton took the post of Warden of The Royal Mint, taking a leading role in England's Great Recoinage before moving to the role of Master of the Mint in 1699. Newton took these roles as seriously as he would any work and reformed the English currency, bringing harsh penalties for counterfeiters whilst heading his own investigations into the criminal world of fake coinage.

Where to Buy?

If you're interested in owning your own piece of British history, shop our range of The Great British Treasure Hunt coins. We look forward to seeing how far you get!