THAT'S MINT
Ultra-rare 25p coin that looks exactly like a 20p sells for 6,800 times its value
Original estimates put the coin selling for between £500 and £700 but it sold for much more than that
AN extremely rare 25p coin which looks just like a 20p has sold for a whooping 6,800 times its face value.
The coin, known as a “pattern coin” or “trial piece” is the same shape as the common 20p piece and is highly sought after by serious collectors.
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It’s believed there are only 50 in circulation and even fewer made from nickel brass, like the one which was recently sold by RWB Auctions in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, on Wednesday.
The man who sold the coin is thought to have been handed it as part of loose change.
Due to its rarity the auction house had estimated the coin would sell for between £500 and £700 but a bidder offered £1,700 for the item.
The 25p coin has a shield on one side and the Sovereign’s Orb on the other.
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It was made by the Royal Mint but at the time, authorities had not decided whether the new coin would be worth 20p or 25p.
Coin experts call experimental coins like this one a "trial piece" or a "pattern coin".
"Experimental coin" and "Royal Mint trial"; are printed onto the coin.
The rare coin was created in 1981 and was used to demonstrate the concept to officials and may have been sent out to businesses that handle lots of cash to try out.
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At the time, authorities had not decided whether the coin would be worth 20p or 25p.
A RWB Auctions member of staff told the BBC: “This is a fascinating piece not just for the rarity but as a glimpse of what our currency could have been.
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"20p coins are a fixture in our change now, but the Royal Mint seems to have experimented with various ideas before they settled on the seven-sided coin we all recognise."
The coin was sold as part of a specialist sale of historic and modern currency.
The auction house has previously sold a scarce Lord Kitchener £2 for £1,000 and an unusual Olympics 50p for £1,500.
The expert added: “This trial coin could easily be mistaken for a 20p, but we are certain it will sell for a lot more than that.
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"While there are not many of these experimental 25p pieces out there, it's worth checking your change to ensure you haven’t been handed a rare and valuable coin.”
How to spot rare coins and banknotes
Rare coins and notes are highly desirable among specialist collectors and could make you a mint if you find one.
Some of the most in-demand pieces can sell for hundreds of pounds.
If you spot an unusual-looking coin in your change, keep hold of it.
Then look up exactly how rare it is. Usually, the rarer it is, the more valuable it is.
You can find out what coins are rare and how they look on The Royal Mint's website.
You can also determine the coin and how common it is by looking at the scarcity index on specialist coin collector sites.
How can I check if my error coin is genuine?
RARE and valuable coins can go for a hefty sum - but how do you know if your coin is the result of a genuine minting error?
The best way to find out if you have an error coin is to send it to the Royal Mint museum, which will analyse it and see if it is a result of a genuine minting error or not.
It'll normally take a couple of weeks to get the results back to you.
But remember, there's a difference between a genuine error coin and one that is just imperfect, for example with a design that is not as clear as you'd expect.
And whatever you do, don't be tempted to splash your cash without evidence from the Mint confirming that it's a genuine error.
To work out how valuable it might be, take a look at similar coins that have recently sold on eBay or even at auction.
Remember to look at "sold listings" to be sure that the coin has sold for the specified amount rather than just been listed.
It's not just coins, rare notes can sell for multiple times their face value.
This includes fivers, rare £10 notes as well as higher denominations.
One of the main distinguishing marks of a rare note is the serial number.
These numbers can be found on the side with the Monarch's face, just under the value of £10 in the corner of the note.
Low serial numbers or something quite quirky can see you cash in thousands.
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For example, one seller bagged £3,600 after spotting a specific serial number relating to the year Jane Austen was born on one of their notes.
You can check if your notes are worth anything on eBay, just tick "completed and sold items" and filter by the highest value.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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