This is the famous James Joyce coin. It is incredibly famous for those who know about it, but for those who don’t, this unique piece of Irish numismatic history has an amazing story behind its sudden rise in value.

Released in April 2013 with an initial pre-sale price of just €46, this coin completely sold out almost instantly. Within just a single week, examples were already changing hands on the secondhand market for around €200.

But the reason for this massive price explosion wasn’t the limited mintage of 10,000, nor was it down to pure rarity. It happened simply because there was a major error made in the design.

The Design and the Famous Misquote

The coin itself features a beautiful design. The reverse shows a mirrored finish on the field of the coin, contrasted with a frosted finish on the portrait of James Joyce. If you look closely, you can see the words coming playfully out of his head.

This inscription is a quote from Joyce’s famous novel, Ulysses—and this is exactly where the error lies.

When we call it a quote, it is actually a misquote. The design accidentally added an extra word into the second sentence: the word “that”.

It is exactly that little typo that drove this coin to increase its value five times over within one week of its release.

Coin Specifications & Features

Aside from the famous error, this coin was released as part of a wider international program and features a few distinct details collectors should look out for:

• The Europa Star: The little star symbol you see on the coin is the emblem for the Europa Coin Program. This particular commemoration was celebrating famous European writers, and James Joyce was Ireland’s chosen edition.
• Denomination: Just underneath the star, you can see the official denomination of 10 Euros.
• The Designer: This specific coin layout was designed by Mary Gregory.
• Mintage: Limited to a maximum of 10,000 pieces.

What is the James Joyce Error Coin Worth Today?

While the initial collector frenzy drove prices up to the €200 mark in seven days, these coins have come down in value a small bit since then, though they do continue to fluctuate.

Right now on the secondhand market, you can typically find them selling for around €150 to €160. To fetch that price, they should come complete with the original presentation box and the certificate of authenticity.

What Do You Think?

Does a prominent typo like this make a coin inherently more collectible and unique, or is it just an embarrassing mistake?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below! Don’t forget to bookmark Irish Silver Stack and subscribe for more coin history, coin rarities, and silver stacking updates.

Take it easy, and have a good one!