Rare 'undated' 20p coin sells for almost £60 on eBay - check your change

01 March 2024 , 13:00

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Have you ever seen an undated 20p? (Image: PA)

A rare 20p coin has sold for almost £60 on eBay because a massive design area which means the date is missing.

This error coin is known as an “undated“ or “mule” 20p and there are thought to be thousands that were accidentally released into circulation. Error coins are particularly valuable to collectables.

The massive flaw was caused when the Royal Mint changed its design back in 2008, and the date that is minted on the coin was moved from the back to the front. But in some cases, the old die was accidentally used - meaning some coins were released with no date on either side of the coin.

The Royal Mint estimates up to 250,000 coins could have been put it into circulation, according to Change Checker, who claims this is the first coin to have been released without a date for more than 300 years. One of the latest “mule“ 20ps to have been listed on eBay sold for £59.98 on February 27.

Bidding started at 99p and attracted 13 bids following a seven-day auction. But the lucky winner will have to pay £8 for delivery. A description of the coin on the eBay listing reads as follows: "Selling up my collection of coins so many others to be listed don’t miss out. Dateless 20p coin. All coins will be sent as special delivery by Royal Mail."

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Error coins can be particularly valuable to collectors as they could be a one-off, or one of very few - but a coin is only ever worth what someone is willing to pay for it. If you're planning on buying a coin, be aware of fakes being sold on eBay so you don’t get scammed out of money.

You can get coins verified by the Royal Mint to check they're the real deal. It is hard for the Royal Mint to say exactly how many error coins could be in circulation, as it manufactures between three million and four million coins a day. But mistakes do happen - so it's worth keeping an eye out in your spare change for anything unusual.

Levi Winchester