ONE rare detail to spot on a 50p coin reveals whether it's worth up to £250

Rare coins can be found in your spare change and are sometimes worth a small fortune. Generally, a piece will be considered rare if a low amount was struck

A RARE 50p coin featuring an ultra-squiggle on one side has sold for almost 500 times its face value.

The collector's item was put up for auction online and received 75 bids.

It was sold for a whopping £245 – despite being legal tender worth just 50p.

The coin features lines across a swimmers' face which makes it incredibly rare and sought after, with bidders willing to pay over the odds for one.

The "Lines Over Face" Aquatics 50p was first struck in 2011 and then tweaked to make the face more visible.

Designed by Jonathan Ollife, the coin has been described as "extra special" by the Royal Mint.

It's worth bearing in mind, if you stumble across a Lines Over Face Aquatics 50p, you might not get as much as £250 for it.

The coin was put up for auction on eBay by seller coinhunterchris and sold on June 24.

The seller, who is based in Kent, describes himself as a "coin enthusiast" who has been collecting for over 30 years.

He said: "I specialise in error coins of Great Britain and have handled many interesting coins over the years.

"I have supplied coins to The Royal Mint Museum and also helped with research for new coin designs."

The seller adds that he has "100% positive feedback" and aims to "describe coins accurately".

He said: "I am always happy to answer any questions about the coins I sell."

The coin is part of a set of 29 50p pieces released by the Royal Mint in 2011 to celebrate the London Olympics.

The coins feature different sports and the athletes who competed in them.

The Aquatics coin was designed by Jonathan Ollife and features a swimmer in the pool.

A limited number of the coins were struck with the error, which occurs when the die used to strike the coin is misaligned.

This causes the design to be squashed on one side of the coin.

The error coins are highly sought-after by collectors, who are willing to pay a premium for them.

In 2019, a "Lines Over Face" Aquatics 50p sold for £235 on eBay.

And in 2020, another example of the coin sold for £220.

The most recent sale of the coin on eBay was for £245 in June 2023.

The coin is now considered to be one of the rarest and most valuable 50p pieces in circulation.

If you find one in your change, it could be worth getting it valued by a coin expert.