Exact detail to spot on new rare error coin worth up to £4,500 – do you have one in your change
A NEW rare coin could be worth up thousands of pounds if it features a particular error, a coin dealer has said.
The Britannia Coin Company, a major coin dealership based near Swindown, sold the valuable piece of spare change last week for a whopping £4,500.
The coin in question is a Gibraltar 50p and features a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II on the heads side, along with the date 1990.
The design on the other side of this coin is Christmas-themed, showing a little choir boy and a puppy.
The chorister design is usually seen on 1989-dated coins, meaning that the heads and tails sides are mismatched.
Coins with mistakes like these are known as "mules", taking their name from the offspring of a horse and a donkey.
READ MORE ON MONEY
What also makes this coin unique is that it is from Gibraltar, which is a British Overseas Territory.
So even though these countries use the same currency, their coins have slightly different designs.
Christopher Collects, a coin expert and YouTuber who works for The Britannia Coin Company, said this coin is one of the "rarest modern coins out there".
"These non-UK 50ps are already rarer than the ones we are used to seeing in our change", he said.
"As this is the only example of this particular manufacturing mistake that has been found so far.
"Since the error has only just been discovered, nobody has been looking for it, so there could definitely be more to be found."
There are a number of old coins that are worth money so it is worth keeping an eye on websites such as eBay if any in your pocket are valuable.
The ancient coin features Rev Britannia, a character believed to represent the spirit of the British nation, seated holding a branch and scepter and a shield by her side.
On the sides of the coin it reads One Penny and at the bottom it is dated 1983.
The reverse of the coin is the usual Queen Victoria bun head, which is a feature on many coins from this era.
The Coin Collecting Wizard explained what makes the coin valuable is an error with the number three in the date at the bottom of the coin.
He said: “What you need to [do is] pay close attention to is the number three.”
“Under the number three it looks like there is the start of a number two.”
“The best way to notice this is where the three joins up in the middle. If it doesn't look like they join up neatly then you have found it.”
The Sun has previously published a list of rare 2p coins that could be worth up to £900.
However, it's worth noting that coins are only really worth what someone is willing to pay for them.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
We've also updated our list of the rarest and most valuable 50p pieces in circulation, including Olympics coins worth more than £200.
Keep up to date with all the rare coins and valuable notes news from The Sun.
What are the most rare and valuable coins?
- Five rarest coins - do you have one?
- The 13 most valuable £2 coins in circulation
- How valuable are the rarest £1 coins?
- Most rare and valuable 50p coins in circulation
- Rare and most valuable 20p coins that could be worth up to £750
- Rarest 10p coins in circulation
- Rare 2p coins revealed
- How to check if you have a rare and valuable banknote
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Facebook group to share your tips and stories