Brits urged to check their 20p coins as minting error could make them worth £80

Minted in 2008, fewer than a quarter of a million of these coins were produced, which means they could potentially turn up in everyday transactions

Brits are being urged to check their wallets and coin collections for a seemingly ordinary 20 pence piece that could be worth a surprising £80.

At first glance, this coin might appear typical, but it harbours a simple minting error that has made it highly coveted by collectors throughout the UK. Some even refer to this particular 20p as the "holy grail" of coins.

Minted in 2008, fewer than a quarter of a million of these coins were produced, which means they could potentially turn up in everyday transactions.

On the social media platform TikTok, an aficionado known as the Coin Collecting Wizard shed light on the matter, stating: "Your shield 20 pence coin could be worth £50."

However, the value hinges on a specific mistake – the absence of a date on the coin.

He elaborated: "It's all to do with a die mix-up at the Royal Mint, causing the coin to have no date."

This rare occurrence impacted less than 250,000 out of the 136 million 20p coins struck in 2008, as the old obverse (the heads side) was paired with the new reverse (the tails side) design, omitting the year of issue entirely.

The coin expert further highlighted the desirability of these unique pieces. He said: "Considered by many as one of the holy grails of UK change collecting, the undated 20p is always at the top of any coin collector's wish list.

“The Royal Mint has confirmed this is the first time in over 300 years that a coin had entered circulation without a date making it extremely sought after by coin collectors.”

He referenced some sellers on eBay who had managed to get £79.99 for the coin, while others sold them for closer to £50.

He added: “As you can see from these eBay sold prices, the undated 20p is an easy sell for around £50, so always make sure to check those 20p coins.”

Referencing this error coin, the Royal Mint said: “In November 2008 a number of 20p coins were incorrectly minted, resulting in the coins being undated.

“These coins remain legal tender and still have a face value of 20p.”

At the time of reporting some accounts had listed these coins on eBay for £150 and £125.