Brits are being urged to check their change as a seemingly ordinary 20 pence piece could fetch up to £80 due to a rare minting error. This particular coin, often referred to as the “holy grail” by enthusiasts, was struck in 2008 with fewer than 250,000 entering circulation, making it a potential find in everyday cash transactions.
A TikTok user known as the Coin Collecting Wizard highlighted the coin’s value, saying: “Your shield 20 pence coin could be worth £50.” The coin’s worth is contingent on a unique flaw – it lacks a date.
The Coin Collecting Wizard explained: “It’s all to do with a die mix-up at the Royal Mint, causing the coin to have no date. ” This anomaly affected less than 250,000 of the 136 million 20p coins minted that year, due to an old obverse (heads side) being mistakenly matched with a new reverse (tails side) design, which left out the year.
As reported by HullLive, the coin expert also emphasized the rarity and appeal of these coins. He stated: “Considered by many as one of the holy grails of UK change collecting, the undated 20p is always at the top of any coin collector’s wish list.”
“The Royal Mint has confirmed this is the first time in over 300 years that a coin had entered circulation without a date making it extremely sought after by coin collectors.” He highlighted the fact that some sellers on eBay have successfully fetched £79.99 for the coin, while others have sold them for around £50.
“As you can see from these eBay sold prices, the undated 20p is an easy sell for around £50, so always make sure to check those 20p coins,” he said. On this notable error coin, the Royal Mint commented: “In November 2008 a number of 20p coins were incorrectly minted, resulting in the coins being undated.”
“These coins remain legal tender and still have a face value of 20p.” At the moment of reporting, these unique coins had been spotted on eBay with price tags of £150 and £125.