The Hunt Is On

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On January 29, the Royal Mint initiated The Great British Treasure Hunt, a groundbreaking experience built around an intricate £5 coin. The nationwide quest involves puzzles and challenges, and individuals who make it to the final stage have the chance to win a 250g solid gold bar worth £30,712. 

Stages of the Hunt

Anyone can participate in The Great British Treasure Hunt, but only United Kingdom residents will be eligible to win the grand prize. The hunt’s first stage is free to the public, but the Penny Drops £5 coin and its packaging are required to solve the rest of the puzzles. Each Discovery Level will be unlocked at regular intervals between January 29 and March 30. Players must work through the levels in order, with the next challenge becoming available after the current one has been completed. 

Players must solve all levels of the The Great British Treasure Hunt by March 30 at midnight to be eligible to win the gold bar. The Royal Mint will select the winner using a random number generator on or shortly after March 31. 

In addition to the main competition, five optional side quests are available, which present the chance to win prizes. The side quests can be completed regardless of whether players are taking part in the main hunt.

The Inspiration Behind the Coin

Inspired by the legacy of Sir Isaac Newton, the warden of the Royal Mint in 1696 and master of the mint in 1699, the £5 coin includes design elements related to Newton’s discoveries. Designers Christian Davies and Matt Dent carefully crafted the coin so that each detail serves a purpose in the hunt, and the packaging also contains clues. In a cryptic fashion fitting to the coin, Davies described the experience of working on the mind-bending project—in reverse:

“.ekila shtuels denosaes dna srelzzup gnuoy htob drawer dna egnellahc ot xim tcefrep eht edivorp yeht epoh ew dna ,thgiled a neeb sah selzzup eht gnitaerC .secneirepxe tnuh erusaert evisremmi hguorht ti htiw tcaretni elpoep woh epahs ot elba erew eW .flesti nioc eht gningised dnoyeb og ot detivni erew ew esuaceb euqinu neeb sah tcejorp sihT.” 

(“This project has been unique because we were invited to go beyond designing the coin itself. We were able to shape how people interact with it through immersive treasure hunt experiences. Creating the puzzles has been a delight, and we hope they provide the perfect mix to challenge and reward both young puzzlers and seasoned sleuths alike.”) 

The Penny Drops £5 Coin

The coin’s reverse features a diagram of the solar system framed by compass points and the legend THE PENNY DROPS 2026. A series of symbols surrounds the central design. The edge inscription reads STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS. The coin is available in brilliant-uncirculated and silver proof versions, as well as a gold collector’s version. The gold specimen is not intended to be used for the hunt and is accompanied by a brilliant-uncirculated version for the game. The brilliant-uncirculated coin has an unlimited mintage, and the silver and gold proof versions have mintages of 5,000 and 100, respectively. 

For details on how to join the hunt, visit the Royal Mint’s website.