It’s always worth examining your loose change as some coins could be worth a small fortune. It could be a 50p coin listed for £15,000 online or a rare £10 banknote turning heads, either way anything can be worth it.
However, it’s now time to focus on the ‘holy grail’ of coin collecting – an undated 20p which sits “at the top of most serious collectors’ wish list”.
Do you possess this treasure?
A popular Instagram account, @CoinCollectingWizard, recently revealed details about this extraordinary 20p coin.
Addressing his 30,900 followers, the video begins with a voiceover declaring: “Easy £50 if you have this 20p.”
The woman in the clip explained: “Considered by many as the ‘holy grail’ of change collecting, the undated 20p is undoubtably at the top of most serious collectors’ wish list.”
During 2008, an unknown quantity of these 20p coins entered circulation lacking a date on either side.
This occurred following a printing error when the new Royal Shield 20p coin design was launched.
The Royal Mint subsequently confirmed this marked the first occasion in 300 years where a coin had entered UK circulation without a date.
The video continued: “This makes it extremely sought-after by collectors.
“They also confirmed that while exact quantities are unknown, no more than 250,000 of these undated coins made it into circulation.
“You should always check the sold listings on secondary market sites to see how much collectors are actually willing to pay for a coin.”
The rare undated 20p coin emerged at the Royal Mint in November 2008 when a limited number of 20p pieces were produced without the year displayed.
It is estimated that approximately 136million 20p coins were created that month, with roughly 250,000 bearing this distinctive mistake.
The issue arose because an outdated obverse design was paired with the new Royal shield of arms reverse, which was launched in the same year.
Previously, the Tudor rose design had displayed the date on both sides of the crown.
When this was substituted with the shield, the date was relocated to the opposite side.
However, it was transferred on most 20p coins except for those which bear the distinctive error.
While some of these undated 20p coins are fetching £50, previously they could even reach £100.
Even at £50, that’s still approximately 250 times its face value.