Brits urged to check their 20p coins as one with unique error could be worth up to £60

An expert has highlighted that certain 20p pieces with a unique error might look "normal" at first glance, but upon closer inspection, you'll notice something is amiss on one side.

Brits are being urged to check their loose change for a seemingly regular 20p coin that could be worth up to £60.

An expert has highlighted that certain 20p pieces with a unique error might look “normal” at first glance, but upon closer inspection, you’ll notice something is amiss on one side.

The Coin Collector UK, an authority in the field who shares insights on TikTok, advised: “One of these 20p coins is worth £60, here’s the one that you want to be looking out for in your change.”

He further detailed that collectors should be on the lookout for a shield design 20p coin that lacks a date on the head side.

“So, what you want to be checking for on all of your shield 20p coins is on the back of the coin,” he instructed.

“If it doesn’t have a date on the bottom, then this is a very rare mule error. In 2008 the Royal Mint accidentally minted 20p coins with no date.”

It’s believed that as many as 250,000 of these coins could be in circulation.

The Coin Collector added: “As with any error the exact numbers produced are known but it’s estimated between 50,000 and 250,000 of these coins managed to make their way into circulation.”

He shed light on how the mistake occurred, explaining: “The main reason why this error was produced in the first place was because in 2008, the 20p definitive design changed from the Tudor rose to the shield.

“And you can see on the Tudor rose coin the date is actually on the front, so there was no need for a date on the obverse head side of the coin.

“So the Royal Mint accidentally minted the shield coin with this obverse by mistake and this is what led to the mule error being produced.

“They tend to sell for around £50 to £60.”

At the time of writing, one of these erroneous coins was listed on eBay for £120, while another was going for £100.