Old Style £2 Coins still in circulation

[Ali]

The first coin I ever bought from someone was a 1996 old style £2 coin in a nice red box. The man I bought it from explained that these were what £2 coins were before the bimetallic issue, they are still legal tender, and one occasionally turns up in a till. Can anyone confirm this?

Even better, has anyone ever seen one? (and then no doubt pulled it from circulation straight away)

[scott]

they are legal tender, people sometimes come into the dealer with some of these £2 coins (common ones) and tells em to go spend it. so yes they are, and so are £5 i believe, not seen any though.

[Chris Perkins]

I've certainly spent them when I've had them and they've been less than perfect. The reason none are seen is probably because they get pulled out of change and kept as oddities.

[TomGoodheart]

I go into the Post Office when there's a new issue, like the 2006 £5 and get a handful and spend them. You sometimes get some funny looks but they are legal tender and maybe someone will get one in change and give them to a kid they know. Well, that's what I hope anyway. Maybe in 30 years time I'll have encouraged a couple of children to start collecting coins. Who knows?