Rare 20p coin sells for 350 times its face value - but do YOU have one?

4 months ago 21

Rare 20p coin has sold for 350 times its face value - check to see if you own one

By Zac Campbell

Published: 10:56 BST, 30 June 2024 | Updated: 10:56 BST, 30 June 2024

A rare 20p coin has sold for 350 times its face value with only 250,000 of them in existence according to the Royal Mint.

In November 2008, a small number of 20p pieces were put in circulation without the year they were produced in due to a printing error.

Labelled the 'holy grail of change collecting' by The Britannia Coin Company of Royal Wootton Basset, the Royal Mint had around 136million 20p coins produced that month.

However, around a quarter of a million coins minted with this unique error - which has resulted in its generous increase in value.

The site says: 'The issue occurred because an old obverse ('heads') design was used with the new royal shield of arms reverse, introduced in this year.

A rare 20p coin has sold for 350 times its face value with only 250,000 of them in existence according to the Royal Mint

'The previous Tudor rose design had the date on either side of the crown. When this was replaced with the shield, the date was moved to the other side.

'It was moved on most 20ps but not these ones, which bear no date at all.

'These coins have been circulated, so they will show the signs of wear typical of change that has been in wallets and cash registers. The only difference is this unusual error.'

Due to the rarity of this specific coin, one individual in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire was able to sell their coin for £69.99 - nearly 350 time its face value.

The Britannia Coin Company of Royal Wootton Bassett also gives coin collectors the option to purchase a pre-owned version of the same coin from its website for £100.

In August 2023, the Royal Mint revealed a list of the rarest coins to enter circulation during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and is urging the public to check their pockets and see if they're lucky.

2022 marked a new era for British coinage because the last coins bearing Queen Elizabeth II were struck, and the first featuring King Charles III entered circulation.

Coins produced include special 50 pence pieces to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, 50 years of Pride and to commemorate the passing of Britain’s longest serving monarch.

Full list of the rarest coins from Queen Elizabeth II’s reign

2019 10p set of 'A to Z' coins celebrating Britain: Letters Y, W and Z each had a mintage of 63,000. Still in active circulation
2019, 10p, also from the A to Z collection: The letter R had a mintage of 64,000, still in active circulation
2019, 10p, all other letters in the A to Z collection: Had a mintage of 84,000. Still in active circulation
1992-1993, 50p coin celebrating the UK’s presidency of the Council of Ministers: The completion of the European single market. The mintage was 109,000. It's no longer in active circulation
2009, 50p, Kew Gardens design: Celebrating the UK's most famous botanical garden, 210,000 were minted. Still in active circulation
2018 dated, 10p, the A to Z 10p collection: With a mintage of 220,000, still in active circulation
2015, Royal Navy £2: This coin celebrated the Navy's role during the First World War, and had a mintage of 650,000. Still in active circulation
2015, £2: Featured Britannia for the first time on a circulating £2 coin, with a mintage of 650,000, still in active circulation
1985 50p: The coin featured a figure of Britannia, with a mintage of 682,103, no longer in active circulation
2002, £2 celebrating each home nation for the Commonwealth Games: Mintage figures for Scotland were 771,750, for Wales, 588,500, for Ireland, 485,500, and for England 650,500. Still in active circulation
2012, £2 celebrating the closing of the 2012 Olympics: Had a mintage of 845,000, still in active circulation
2008, £2 for the centenary of the Olympic Games: With mintage of 910,000, still in active circulation
2008 £2 marked the end of the Beijing 2008 Olympics: With a mintage of 918,000, still in active circulation
2011 £2 commemorating 400 years since the King James Bible was published: With a mintage of 975,000, still in active circulation
2018 50p, a series of coins celebrated Beatrix Potter’s classic tales: With a mintage of 1,400,000 each for Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny designs, still in active circulation
2011, 50p, a series of coins celebrating the London 2012 Olympics: Mintages included 1,454,000 for tennis, 1,161,500 for judo and 1,163,500 for triathlon, still in active circulation
2010-2011, £1, a series of pound coins featuring official badges of capital cities in the UK: They had mintages of 935,000 for Edinburgh, 2,635,000 for London and 1,615,000 for Cardiff, no longer in active circulation
2008, £1, a pound coin that featured the UK’s Royal Arms: With a mintage of 3,910,000, no longer in active circulation