Rare 20p coin sells for more than 622 times its face value on eBay – here's how to check if you have one
A RARE 20p coin with a highly unusual error has sold on eBay for a whopping 620 times its face value.
The Royal Mint coin carries an error as a result of a weak strike during the minting process.
1
This makes it extremely valuable for collectors.
It comes after a rare Peter Rabbit 50p coin recently sold on the online market place site for more than 5,000 times its value.
Described as 'very nice and interesting' coin, the 20p piece inspired a mini bidding war among collectors, prior to selling for almost £125.
The description of the listing on eBay said: 'Striking machines are set so that the dies have a limited travel, this is done to stop the dies crashing into each other in the absence of a coin.
'It's my understanding that this coin was struck on a badly set machine, or a trial piece used in set up.
'Only the higher raised detail of the dies connected, which make the lower details of the coin. Therefore, lower fields are shiny and well formed, but raised detail is absent.
'These higher unstruck areas show the correct dull and marked finish of a pre struck coin as a result of the polishing process.
'The coin clearly shows the round nature of 20p blanks prior to being struck. A very nice and interesting error coin indeed.'
The coin collected 13 bids, before selling for 622 times its face value for £124.48.
The 20p Coin you should check for
What makes a coin valuable?
The 50 pence piece has become the most valued and collected coin in the UK, with many collectable designs appearing on its heptagonal canvas.
Its 27.5mm diameter makes it the largest of any British coin, and allows space for decorative pictures. It has often been used to celebrate big events over the past 50 years of British history.
The rarest coins tend to be of the greatest value, with the mintage (number of coins with each design made) being the fundamental attraction for collectors.
Along with the design, other aspects of the coin which increase value are the condition of the coin and whether it has an error in its design, such as the 20p coin above.
The way in which it is sold can also determine the coin's value - while some coin collectors will bid vast amounts of money on eBay or at auction, others opt for more robust valuations by selling via a coin dealer.
How to sell a rare coin
If you have managed to get your hands on a rare coin, there are a few ways you can go about selling it.
Online platforms such as eBay, Facebook marketplace, or trading apps can be easy to use – but there are risks.
Scammers may try and target sellers with this trick – they'll say they are keen to purchase the item and ask for money upfront for a courier.
They have no plan on collecting the item and are only using the courier to grab free cash.
When buying or selling on Facebook Marketplace it's advisable to meet up in person – make sure this is a safe space and avoid payment links.
Many sellers will choose to handle cash when meeting to limit the risk of scams.
To ensure the ultimate safety you can sell rare coins at an auction.
This can be done through The Royal Mint's Collectors Service which has a team of experts who can help you authenticate and value your coin.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
27 minutes ago
- Times
My simple plan for affordable homes that keeps everyone happy
I have lived in the same village in Worcestershire for the past 50 years, on the same land that my family has farmed since the middle of the 18th century, in the area that inspired the village of Ambridge from The Archers. To sustain employment on the land, which had fallen from more than 60 people when I began down to three in the Eighties, we have diversified into hydroelectricity, housebuilding, hosting weddings and the invention of flower petal confetti, for which we grow more than 30 acres of flowers in a field that is visited by people from all over the world. In summer, we can employ more than 80 people. However this success in the rural economy is coupled with an incongruity. Many of these employees, including people who grew up in the village, complain that they can't afford to raise their families here.
BBC News
33 minutes ago
- BBC News
Super League Basketball to sue governing body
Super League Basketball (SLB) says it has begun legal action against the British Basketball Federation (BBF), accusing the governing body of abusing its position and breaching UK competition law. The SLB says it is being undermined by the BBF's decision to refuse to issue governing body endorsements (GBEs) - a requirement for any club wanting to sign an overseas player requiring a visa - unless it accepts a one-year deal to keep SLB says that decision is designed to put its clubs at a "competitive disadvantage to any rival league favoured by BBF" and could be in breach of the UK Government's code of practice for sports governing organisations had been in dispute over the BBF's decision to terminate an interim deal with the SLB and instead agree a 15-year deal with GBB League Ltd (GBBL) to run the men's professional league from the 2026-27 says the BBF has since acknowledged that it does not need a licence to operate and just needs to be recognised as a added that it has no issue with another league being given a UK licence, but wants to operate "free from unlawful harm".SLB was awarded an interim three-year licence last July to replace the British Basketball League, which collapsed amid financial in April the BBF agreed the deal with GBBL, saying that because SLB had elected not to bid for a long-term licence it activated a clause to terminate the interim agreement at the end of the 2024-25 disputed that view, saying it had withdrawn from the tender process after "concerns were raised over the legality of the BBF's actions" and that its nine clubs would refuse to Sport has contacted the BBF for comment.
Auto Express
36 minutes ago
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: Vauxhall Grandland Ultimate for an unbelievable £179 a month
Range-topping Ultimate model £3 a month more than a Mokka Only £178.82 a month The Vauxhall Grandland is the largest model Vauxhall offers, and as such the British brand has thrown the proverbial kitchen sink at it in terms of technology and equipment. But, despite its grand positioning, it's one of the cheapest family SUVs around to lease. Advertisement - Article continues below Currently Leasing Options is offering the Grandland for a miniscule £178.82 a month – just £3 more than the significantly smaller Vauxhall Mokka. It's a two-year deal and requires a very modest £2,495.83 initial payment, with mileage limited to 5,000 a year. This can be bumped up to 8,000 for a pretty steep £27.95 extra a month, so this deal is better suited to lower-mileage drivers. Not only will you be getting the largest model Vauxhall sells, but also the poshest version. This deal is for the ambitiously named 'Ultimate', but it is true to its badge, because it's packed with features. Vauxhall throws in 19-inch diamond-cut wheels, a panoramic roof, a large 16-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and full matrix-LED headlights, plus LED lighting strips. The Ultimate also gets illuminated Vauxhall badges, so everyone will know how posh your car is. Under the bonnet you'll find a 1.2-litre petrol hybrid engine. With 134bhp, power isn't the name of the game here, and that also goes for the driving experience. The Grandland isn't a thrill-a-minute ride, but given that this is a family car, its supple ride and high levels of refinement are far more impressive. The Grandland is also one of the most spacious cars in the class. There are numerous storage spaces, back-seat room is plentiful, and the 550-litre boot capacity is very generous. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Vauxhall Grandland leasing offers from leading providers on our Vauxhall Grandland hub page. Check out the Vauxhall Grandland deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here …
