While there are many coin collectors among us, it’s somewhat unusual for people to seek out rare banknotes – nevertheless occasionally a scarce note emerges that can command a hefty price.
Brits are now being encouraged to watch for a rare £10 banknote, which has been highlighted by a coin specialist on social media.
Coin expert and Instagrammer @CoinCollectingWizard, who commands 30,600 followers on his social media platform, revealed a selection of coins, alongside a £10 which you should seek in your collection.
He began the post: “Did you know that rare coins and error coins can be hiding in your everyday change?”
In the caption, he added: “Some coins are worth hundreds or even thousands if they have: Low mintage – limited edition coins like commemoratives or special releases.
“Minting errors – rotation errors, double strikes, missing details, or misprints. Unique designs – special series.”
Additional coins the collector referenced in the post included the Kew Gardens 50p, the Wrestling 50p coin from the London 2012 collection and the bronze 20p.
The collector suggested these coins might appear commonplace initially but could represent a “hidden treasure”, Manchester Evening News reports.
He added: “Always take a moment to check the date, design, and condition – it could pay off!”.
The Bank of England introduced its £10 note featuring Jane Austen back in 2017. In a post shared by Coin Collecting Wizard, it was suggested that the note could fetch up to £3,600, however, eBay listings show that the note has previously sold for as much as £200 – still 20 times its face value.
It’s crucial to bear in mind that banknotes can become highly sought-after if they possess specific serial numbers. For instance, £10 notes with AA serial numbers could potentially earn you a tidy sum.
ChangeChecker disclosed that the serial numbers on a Jane Austen £10 note can be of great value to collectors, especially if they correspond with particular dates associated with the author.
Key dates include:
Her birthday – 16/12/1775
Her death – 18/07/1817
The publication date of Pride and Prejudice – 28/01/1813
Collectors are also interested in notes with low serial numbers, especially ones which begin with AA01. This serial number is when the first notes were printed, with AA01 000001 being the very first note.
Meanwhile other notable serial numbers include:
JA01
JA75
JA17
Any “ladder” or recurring number sequences (for example, 001122, 012345) can also be of interest.