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COINING IT

‘Halloween’ coin is worth £5,000 – how to spot the ‘highly collectable’ piece

Only 8,000 of these rare Gothic crowns were made in 1847

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THIS is how to spot the highly collectable "Halloween" coin that is worth £5,000.

The rare piece only has a few in the entire circulation that are minted.

The rare piece only has a few in the entire circulation that are minted
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The rare piece only has a few in the entire circulation that are mintedCredit: The Royal Mint
Known for being quite a "gothic" coin amongst collectors and experts, it becomes more popular around the spookiest time of year
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Known for being quite a "gothic" coin amongst collectors and experts, it becomes more popular around the spookiest time of yearCredit: The Royal Mint

Known for being quite a "gothic" coin amongst collectors and experts, it becomes more popular around the spookiest time of year.

Only 8,000 of these rare Gothic crowns were made in 1847, making them extremely collectable to the right person.

The same coin is listed on the  website for £3,520.

However, depending on the condition, Jon White, who runs the Britannia Coin Company, said dealers will pay up to £5,000.

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The coin itself features an image of Queen Victoria, portrayed in a medieval style, along with gothic text on the reverse.

It is so rare that it's very unlikely you will see it within the change in your purse or wallet.

Instead, it’s more common that the people who could have these in their home are serious collectors and those who’ve inherited pieces from older relatives - and now they could be worth up to £25,000.

In 2021, it was the 50th anniversary of the decimal currency since the changeover took place on February 15, 1971.

Before this happened, under the British currency there were 12 pennies to a shilling and 20 shillings in a pound.

The system we use now is based on 100 pennies to the pound, while some coins, like the shilling, are no longer used.

But if you do stumble upon any rare coin - including the 1917 London Mint Sovereign, 1919 KN Penny or the 1935 "Raised Edge" Proof Crown, then you can sell them.

Ways to sell your rare coins

IF you've got a rare coin, there are many different ways to sell it.

Members of the  will be able to help you but they may charge a fee.

For example, part of their service would be able to say whether you could sell your coin at auction or whether it would be valuable to collector.

You’ll also usually have to visit them in person with the coin in order for them to assess it.

If you want to sell the coin you’ve found in your spare change on eBay then you need to know the risks.

Remember to set a minimum price that is higher or at the very least equal to the face value of the coin.

Even if your coin “sells” on eBay for a high price there’s no guarantee that the buyer will cough up.

It its terms and conditions, the auction website states that bidders enter a “legally binding contract to purchase an item”, but there’s no way to enforce this rule in reality.

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