MAKE A MINT
How rare ‘fried egg’ error on your £2 coin could make it 300 times more valuable – are you sitting on a goldmine?
Find out what other coins could make you a small fortune
A RARE 'fried egg' error on your £2 coin could transform it into a goldmine worth 300 times its original value.
A major error, dubbed the "fried egg," has been spotted on some £2 coins, making them up to 300 times more valuable than their face value.
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People are scrambling to check whether their loose change could be worth a windfall.
A Reddit user recently shared a post about a peculiar £2 coin they found, they posted: "What's wrong with the top £2 coin."
The coin, which the user initially thought was either damaged or deformed, sparked a frenzy of responses from fellow coin enthusiasts who immediately recognised the jackpot coin.
The coin's owner, who had been collecting coins for years, was unsure if this was a rare find or just a beat-up piece of metal.
Rare coins
He said: “I've had this weird £2 coin for a while and I'm not sure if it’s an error or just damaged.”
He added that his collection had stalled after leaving his cash-based job as a bartender.
One eagle-eyed user quickly identified the coin as a rare “fried egg” error.
They said: “I believe this is known as a 'fried egg' error.
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“I’ve seen posts about a few £1 coins and a small handful of £2 coins, but I’ve never seen it on a commemorative design.
"I’m not sure how much value this error adds, but it’s certainly a cool piece regardless.”
The “fried egg” error occurs when the middle of the coin, typically the gold-colored inner circle, spills out into the silver outer ring, resembling a fried egg.
This mistake makes the coin highly sought after by collectors.
What a beauty of a coin!
Collectors were quick to speculate on the coin’s value, with one user guessing, “Worth £800 at a guess.”
Others were more conservative, suggesting it could fetch a “50 times multiplier” on its face value.
But one thing’s for sure: you’d be hard-pressed to find one under three figures on eBay.
Another user urged the owner to hold onto the coin, saying: “It’s worth a bunch more in terms of collectability, so I’d keep hold of it and build it into your numismatic hoard.”
Some users couldn't help but crack a joke, with one commenting: “I have a pound coin that is a terrible misstrike. Kept it for a few years. I joke to my eldest that it’s his inheritance.”
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If you’ve got a £2 coin with this rare design error, you could be looking at a windfall.
Experts estimate these “fried egg” coins could be worth up to £600 or more, depending on the condition and demand.
But remember, coin prices can vary, and what one person values highly might not sell for the same amount.
However, with the current buzz around these rare finds, now could be the perfect time to cash in.
Meanwhile, for those who have emptied the piggy bank but failed to find a fried egg coin, there's no need to give up just yet.
It's always worth keeping an eye on your spare change as there are plenty of other rare coin variations.
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The Sun has even put together a list of rare 2p coins that could be worth up to £900.
Plus, a rare coin dating back nearly 700 years recently sold for an eye-watering sum after being found down a field drain.
How can I check if my error coin is genuine?
RARE and valuable coins can go for a hefty sum - but how do you know if your coin is the result of a genuine minting error?
The best way to find out if you have an error coin is to send it to the Royal Mint museum, which will analyse it and see if it is a result of a genuine minting error or not.
It'll normally take a couple of weeks to get the results back to you.
But remember, there's a difference between a genuine error coin and one that is just imperfect, for example with a design that is not as clear as you'd expect.
And whatever you do, don't be tempted to splash your cash without evidence from the Mint confirming that it's a genuine error.
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