Exact errors to spot on five little-known coin designs in your change that could be worth up to £3,000 --[Reported by Umva mag]

YOU could be quids in if you’re able to spot these little-known designs with rare errors in your spare change.

There’s a chance the small coins in your change might be worth a big fortune.

Rare coins are known to pick up large sums of money.

If you discover a sought-after coin in your change, you can make money on it by selling them at auction, either online or in person, or through a dealer.

There are some coins which are known to fetch large sums of cash, such as the Kew Gardens 50p and the commemorative 50p coins minted to mark the London 2012 games.

But there are also lesser-known designs that are worth keeping an eye out for – as well as error coins.

A coin with a minting error could be worth a small fortune because very few actually make it into circulation.

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.

If you managed to sell all of the coins mentioned below for their top value, you could make up to £3,312.

Undated 20p – £100

Alamy

The undated 20p is known as the “holy grail of change collecting”, ChangeChecker previously told The Sun.

Collectors have been known to search far and wide for the valuable coin ever since it entered circulation in 2008.

Back then, The Royal Mint decided to change the positioning of the date on every 20p piece, moving it from the back to the front.

But in an accidental error, a batch of between 50,000 and 250,000 coins was released without any date at all.

Kimberley Day from RWB auctions said: “These British coins were the first in more than three hundred years to enter circulation with no date.

“Real examples should have no date on either side but otherwise look similar to standard 20ps. These coins sell online for up to £100.”

We checked eBay and found that one of these error coins sold for £75 on September 25.

While another sold for £69.99 on September 20, and a third for £68 on September 15.

Olympic Aquatics 50p – £3,000

Britania Coin Company

This rare coin features an image of a swimmer slicing through the water on its reverse.

But the coin we are familiar with today wasn’t actually the original design, Kimberley said.

“Rare early examples show lines across the swimmer’s face, whereas the more common type shows no lines,” she added.

“If you have collector’s edition of this coin with the 50p sealed in a purple and teal card it is worth checking if you have the rare variant.

“Most examples are found in this type of packaging but loose examples have been found in people’s change.

“Genuine examples of this error have sold for £3,000 or more.”

The coin was minted in 2011, along with 28 other designs that each featured a sport played at the 2021 Olympics.

The games were hosted in London that year, so the coin collection came out to celebrate the piece of British sporting history.

It isn’t known how many of the original design Olympic Aquatics 50ps are out there.

We spotted one of these coins which sold for a whopping £3,766 on eBay on August 4.

£2 Inverted Britannia effigy – £150

A small number of 2015 Britannia £2 coins were minted with the Queen’s head upside down.

They accidentally entered circulation and they could now be worth a small fortune.

The Queen’s head is offset by about 150 degrees compared to the Britannia design on the other side.

It’s thought that the error was caused by a loose die rotating during the striking process.

The coin has a mintage figure of just 650,000, making it one of the scarcest in circulation.

It’s estimated that as few as one in 200 – or approximately 3,250 – of them feature the inverted effigy”, ChangeChecker previously told The Sun.

When The Sun checked eBay, we found one that sold for £150 on August 12.

Navy £2 with ‘flag’ error – £17

There are two different design variations of the 2015 Navy £2 coin that were released into circulation.

The original Navy £2 design show the coin without any markings on the top right of the mast, while the other appears to have a flag flying.

Collectors speculated that two different designs were struck, but it was later confirmed as a striking error caused by a cracked die.

It is unknown how many of these error coins are in circulation, but Kate says it is worth checking the ones in your collection.

The worth of these coins varies across eBay, with one going for a fiver on August 18 and another selling for £17 on July 22.

Sir Isaac Newton 50p – £45

PA:Press Association

The Sir Isaac Newton 50p was first issued in 2017 to mark the 375th anniversary of the famous scientist’s birth.

But eagle-eyed collectors soon noticed something a little different on some of their 50ps.

Several collectors reported finding an error on the obverse where several extra lines appeared across the Queen’s portrait.

Again, it’s thought to be an error caused during the striking process during a ‘die clash’.

It’s not known how many of these error coins are in circulation.

One of these coins sold for £45 on September 8, while another went for £30 on August 30.

How do I check if my coin is rare?

Rare coins and valuable notes can be worth tens of thousands of times their face value.

But sometimes it’s just tiny differences which make them so lucrative.

The most valuable coins tend to be ones with low mintage numbers or an error.

Those qualities typically make them valuable to collectors.

Your next step would be to check if your coin is still available to purchase in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality from an official Royal Mint distributor, according to Change Checker.

Certified Brilliant Uncirculated coins have been specially struck to a superior unblemished quality which set them apart from the coins you may find in pockets.

Selling a coin at auction or through a dealer

There are many different factors to consider when trying to value a coin, including its condition and mintage, so it’s important to do your homework first.

If you’ve got a coin that you would like to sell at auction, you can contact The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service.

It has a team of experts who can help you to 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.

If you are looking to buy a coin online through a marketplace such as eBay, it’s important to know exactly what you are purchasing.

This is because anyone can list a coin on eBay and charge whatever amount they wish.

You should also be wary of fakes online – and keep in mind that on eBay a buyer could pull out, which means the coin won’t have sold for the price it says it has.

Meanwhile, we have put together a guide on the rarest and most valuable coins.

We also tell you what you should do if you find a lucky penny in your pocket.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

The following news has been carefully analyzed, curated, and compiled by Umva Mag from a diverse range of people, sources, and reputable platforms. Our editorial team strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information we provide. By combining insights from multiple perspectives, we aim to offer a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of the events and stories that shape our world. Umva Mag values transparency, accountability, and journalistic integrity, ensuring that each piece of content is delivered with the utmost professionalism.