I’m a coin expert – exact date to spot on rare £2 worth more than £1,000
IF you pay close attention to your change, you might spot something a little bit unusual.
A coin with a minting error could be worth a small fortune because very few actually make it into circulation.
For this reason, they are very attractive to collectors who are sometimes willing to pay large sums in exchange for one.
One of the most valuable error coins is the HG Wells £2 error coin.
Kate Morgan, a coin expert from Change Checker, told The Sun: “The 2021 H.G. Wells £2 was issued to mark 75 years since the death of science fiction novelist, H.G. Wells.
“There is a known error which features on some H.G. Wells £2 coins where the blank used has a much wider outer yellow ring.”
Like other £2 coins, it is made from two metals – a silver coloured cupro-nickel disc surrounded by an outer yellow nickel-brass ring.
But it appears that some may have been minted with a thicker yellow ring, wider than a normal £2 coin.
Rachel previously said that if a coin with this error was to be sold at auction, it could fetch more than £1,000.
This is because they were only available to buy directly from the Royal Mint and not widely circulated.
Any error versions will have only been available to buy on their release in January 2021.
Although they haven’t been launched into circulation, that doesn’t mean one couldn’t accidentally end up in your change though.
You can make money from these rare coins by selling them at auction, either online or in person, or through a dealer.
The price of a coin varies based on things like demand at the time and how common it is.
It’s important to remember that you aren’t guaranteed to fetch huge amounts if you do choose to sell your change.
Anyone can list a coin on eBay and charge whatever amount they wish, but it’s only ever worth what someone is willing to pay.
By checking the recently sold items you will get a more accurate indication of what people are willing to pay for a specific coin.
This £2 coin launched in 2021 to mark 75 years since the death of the science fiction novelist HG Wells.
Like other £2 coins, it is made from two metals – a silver coloured cupro-nickel disc surrounded by an outer yellow nickel-brass ring.
But it appears that some may have been minted with a thicker yellow ring, wider than a normal £2 coin
Rachel said that if a coin with this error was to be sold at auction, it could fetch more than £1,000.
This is because they were only available to buy directly from the Royal Mint and not widely circulated.
Any error versions will have only been available to buy on their release in January 2021.
Although they haven’t been launched into circulation, that doesn’t mean one couldn’t accidentally end up in your change though.
And you may have been among the lucky coin collectors who managed to get your hands on one when they went on sale.
How to sell a rare coin
There are lots of ways to sell your coin – you can sell it on eBay, through Facebook, or in an auction.
But be wary of the risks.
For example, there are a number of scams targeting sellers on Facebook.
Crooks will say they’re planning to buy the item, and ask for money upfront for a courier they’ll be sending around.
But it’s all a ploy to get you to send free cash to them – and they never have any intention of picking your item up.
It’s always best to meet in person when buying or selling on Facebook Marketplace.
Ensure it’s a public meeting spot that’s in a well-lit area.
Avoid payment links and log in directly through the payment method’s website.
Most sellers prefer to deal with cash directly when meeting to ensure it’s legitimate.
Perhaps the safest way of selling rare coins is to sell them at auction – to do this, contact The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service.
It has a team of experts who can help you authenticate and value your coin.
You’ll need to enquire via email, and a member of the valuation team will contact get back to you.
Take a picture of your coin and attach this to the email – you can find the details on The Royal Mint’s website.
Be aware that you will be charged for this service though – the cost will vary depending on the size of your collection.
You might choose to use eBay to sell your rare coin.
But take into account that if you manage to sell your item then eBay will charge you 10% of the money you made – this includes postage and packaging.
Always keep proof of postage to protect yourself from dodgy buyers who may claim they never received their item.
Send the parcel by tracked delivery if you can.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.