How missing numbers could make your 20p worth 250 TIMES more – as rare change sparks bidding war
A RARE Royal Mint 20p coin has sold for around 250 times its worth on eBay after it started a mini bidding war.
The unique “mule” coin is from 2008 and fetched for more than £50 on the online auction.
An error saw it minted without a date and it quickly became a sought-after collector’s item.
Before 2008, the date on 20p coins would be found on the tail side.
However, the Royal Mint switched it to be located next to the Queen’s head.
A mistake led to the old format being used on the Queen’s side and the new format on the tail side.
This resulted in a batch of British coins being released into circulation without a date for the first in more than 300 years.
Around 250,000 20p coins minted in November 2008 are said to have entered into circulation with no date.
The description on the coin, which sold on Thursday, said: “This rare 20p Mule coin is a must-have for any serious collector.
“The coin features an updated 20p denomination and is in high grade, making it a valuable addition to any collection. The coin is from the United Kingdom and is believed to have originated in England.”
After attracting 11 bids, the 20p coin sold for £53.99.
It comes after a rare coin enthusiast revealed how a “bun head” penny coin could be worth over £160.
The clip from the expert, who goes by, coincollectingwizard, on TikTok, revealed images of seldom-seen change that could bag you hundreds of pounds.
He said: “There are many old British pennies that are quite valuable, it does depend on the date though.”
The collector explained that the 1894 predecimal penny “easily sells” for over £160 if it’s in “extra-fine condition”.
The coin depicts Queen Victoria facing left on one side and the Helmed Britannia seated facing right on the reverse.
The Coin Collecting Wizard said this item was the last predecimal penny featuring Queen Victoria.
It is dubbed the “bun head” because of Queen Victoria’s hairstyle on the coin.
The content creator said the date on the coin is key as that’s what makes the coin more valuable.
He added: “The 1894 penny in extra-fine condition easily sells for over £160, so keep an eye out for this very old penny.
He also said the coin is “just one of many that are rare and valuable” but he explained: “Just remember it all depends on the date and the condition of the coin.”
How to sell a rare banknote or coin
It is not just rare banknotes that exist, but rare coins as well.
There are three ways you can sell either of the legal tender – on eBay, Facebook, or in an auction.
If you’re selling on Facebook, there are risks attached.
Some sellers have previously been targeted by scammers who say they want to buy a rare note or coin and ask for money upfront to pay for a courier to pick it up.
But if the courier is never actually sent you’re left out of pocket.
Rather than doing this, it’s always best to meet a Facebook seller in person when buying or selling a rare note or coin.
Ensure it’s a public meeting spot in a well-lit area and if you can, avoid using payment links.
Most sellers prefer to deal with cash directly when meeting to ensure it’s legitimate.
The safest way to sell a rare coin or note is more than likely at auction.
You can organise this with The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service.
It has a team of experts who can help you authenticate and value your coin.
You can get in touch via email and a member of the valuation team will get back to you.
You will be charged for the service though – the cost varies depending on the size of your collection.
You can also sell rare coins and notes on eBay.
But always bear in mind that you will only make what the buyer is willing to pay at that time.
You can search for the same note or coin as you have to see how much the same one has sold for on the website previously.
This can help give you an indication of how much you should sell it for.
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