Test versions of the new £1 coin are being flogged for 310 times their value on eBay
COIN buffs are making a mint by flogging test versions of the new £1 coin for 310 times its face-value.
Collectors are rushing to banks and post offices across the land today to grab a brand new £1 coin in near-perfect condition.
But uncirculated coins sent out as part of sets before the launch or given to businesses to prepare for the new addition have been changing hands on eBay for up to £310.
They are identical in every way to the millions going out today except they have not gone into the banking system so will not have been bagged up with countless other coins – where they risk being scratched or nicked in the process.
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They are highly sought-after by collectors due to their perfect condition but they can't be used in shops.
Around 200,000 trial coins were issued by The Royal Mint ahead of the launch of the new £1.
While thousands of "Brilliant Uncirculated" souvenirs coins by The Royal Mint for £10 each have also been sold.
One seller has sold a 2016 test coin for £310, while another has sold for £270.
There are also dozens of 2017 uncirculated coins which are listed at more than 26 times their value.
Last month, we revealed how these coins were changing hands for around £200 on the auction website.
The new 12-sided coin enters circulation today at 33 points across the country.
The coin has been described as the most secure in the world and it will slowly replace the old “round pound” – which will stop being legal tender later this year.
Around 300million new £1 coins have been issued - roughly 20 per cent of the planned 1.5billion that will be in circulation by the end of next year.
But it might take a few days or weeks for people to start seeing the new £1 coins turn up in their change as they gradually filter into general use.
From 15 October 2017, businesses will stop accepting the old £1 coin in shops. If you have any left then you can still take them to the bank to exchange them after this time.
The old £1 coins were first launched on April 21 1983 to replace £1 notes. The Royal Mint has produced more than two billion round pound coins since that time.
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