Dubbed “the holy grail of change collecting” by The Britannia Coin Company of Royal Wootton Bassett, this unique coin is the result of a printing error in 2008.
The error occurred when a batch of Twenty Pence coins was struck without a date.
Approximately 250,000 of these coins were minted in November 2008 out of the 136 million 20ps produced that year.
The mistake happened because an older obverse design (‘heads’ side) was paired with a new royal shield reverse (‘tails’ side), leaving the date completely missing.
One lucky seller in County Durham recently sold their undated 20p for £69.99 – nearly 350 times its face value.
Meanwhile, The Britannia Coin Company lists similar coins on their website for as much as £90.
The coin-selling website explains: “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.”
Top Tips to Check for the Rare 20p Coin in County Durham:
- Search through your loose change at home.
- Double-check any 20p coins you receive as change at the till.
- Look for a 20p without a visible date on either side – it could be the jackpot!
What makes a coin valuable?
The 50 pence piece has become the most valued and collected coin in the UK, with many collectable designs appearing on its heptagonal canvas.
Its 27.5mm diameter makes it the largest of any British coin, and allows space for decorative pictures. It has often been used to celebrate big events over the past 50 years of British history.
The rarest coins tend to be of the greatest value, with the mintage (number of coins with each design made) being the fundamental attraction for collectors.
Along with the design, other aspects of the coin which increase value are the condition of the coin and whether it has an error in its design.
The way in which it is sold can also determine the coin’s value – while some coin collectors will bid vast amounts of money on ebay or at auction, others opt for more robust valuations by selling via a coin dealer.
Royal Mint top 10 most valuable 50p coins
Here is a list of the top 10 most valuable coins, when they were made and how many were minted:
- Atlantic Salmon (2023), 200,000
- Kew Gardens (2009), 210,000
- Olympic Wrestling (2011), 1,129,500
- OlympicFootball(2011), 1,161,500
- Olympic Judo (2011), 1,161,500
- Olympic Triathlon (2011), 1,163,500
- Peter Rabbit (2018), 1,400,000
- Flopsy Bunny (2018), 1,400,000
- Olympic Tennis (2011), 1,454,000
- Olympic Goalball (2011), 1,615,500
Queen Mother and Red Arrows feature on new Royal Mint coin designs for 2025
Five new coin designs for 2025, including those depicting the Red Arrows and and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, have been unveiled by the Royal Mint.
It is a first glimpse for collectors to see some designs which will appear on commemorative coins in 2025.
The Royal Mint’s 2025 annual set, which will be available next week, includes new designs for the 50p, £2 coin and £5 coin.
Two 50p coins have been designed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first Red Arrows display, and to commemorate those who played a pivotal role in the Second World War.
And two £2 new coin designs will celebrate 200 years of the modern railway and the founding of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London.
A £5 coin has also been designed to celebrate the life and legacy of the Queen Mother.
The 2025 commemorative sets will be available in a range of precious metal and base proof finishes, from January 2 via the Royal Mint website, with prices starting from £39.50.
Each of the coins will be available individually during 2025.
*Just because a coin is listed for this price, doesn’t mean it necessarily sells for this price. A coin is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, and prices for rare coins do differ.*