2008 年未注明日期的 20 便士 Mule Error 硬币：英国硬币收藏的圣杯

在钱币收藏界，有些钱币堪称真正的宝石——稀有、独特，而且价值远远超过其面值。

Coin collectors, prepare yourselves! There's a rare and valuable coin out there waiting to be discovered, and it could be hiding in your pocket change. The coin in question is the undated 20p mule error from 2008.

钱币收藏家们，请做好准备！有一枚稀有且有价值的硬币等待被发现，它可能就藏在您的零钱里。该硬币是 2008 年未注明日期的 20 便士骡币。

This coin is special because it was struck without a date on either side, thanks to a critical error at the Royal Mint. The batch of coins was supposed to be stamped with the 2008 date, but somehow a batch of coins slipped through the cracks without the critical detail.

这枚硬币很特别，因为由于皇家造币厂的严重错误，它的两面都没有注明日期。这批硬币本应印有 2008 年的日期，但不知何故，一批硬币从裂缝中溜走，没有提供关键细节。

The error was discovered by a coin enthusiast named Chris Pople, who noticed the coin while examining his change. He realized that the coin had no date and contacted Change Checker, a website dedicated to tracking rare coins, to report his finding.

这个错误是由一位名叫克里斯·波普尔（Chris Pople）的硬币爱好者发现的，他在检查零钱时注意到了硬币。他意识到这枚硬币没有日期，于是联系了专门追踪稀有硬币的网站 Change Checker，报告了他的发现。

The coin was later confirmed to be genuine by the Royal Mint, which stated that an "undisclosed quantity" of coins were struck without the date due to a mix-up with the dies used for minting.

该硬币后来被皇家造币厂确认为真品，并表示由于铸造所用的模具混淆，铸造了“数量不明”的硬币，没有注明日期。

The undated 20p coin is part of the 2008 series, which features the introduction of the Royal Shield of Arms design on British coins. The coin is made of cupro-nickel and has a diameter of 21.4mm.

这枚未注明日期的 20 便士硬币是 2008 年系列的一部分，该系列在英国硬币上引入了皇家盾徽设计。该币材质为铜镍，直径21.4毫米。

The absence of a date on the coin is considered a significant error, and because so few were made, the coin has become highly coveted by collectors. Many consider this coin to be one of the "holy grails" of UK change collecting.

硬币上没有日期被认为是一个重大错误，而且由于铸造量极少，这枚硬币受到了收藏家的高度追捧。许多人认为这枚硬币是英国零钱收藏的“圣杯”之一。

The coin is typically worth around £50 on the market, which is 250 times its face value. However, some coins have been known to sell for even higher prices at auctions.

该硬币在市场上的价值通常约为 50 英镑，是其面值的 250 倍。然而，一些硬币在拍卖会上的售价甚至更高。

If you're hoping to find one of these rare coins, checking your change regularly is key. The undated 20p is easy to spot once you know what to look for, but it's crucial to ensure that the coin is genuine and not a fake.

如果您希望找到其中一枚稀有硬币，定期检查零钱是关键。一旦您知道要寻找什么，就很容易识别出未注明日期的 20 便士，但确保该硬币是真币而不是假币至关重要。

Collectors also recommend paying close attention to coins that exhibit other possible errors. Any misprints, misalignments, or other minting flaws could indicate that the coin is worth more than its face value.

收藏家还建议密切关注存在其他可能错误的硬币。任何印刷错误、错位或其他铸造缺陷都可能表明硬币的价值高于其面值。

So, next time you reach into your pocket or check your change, take a moment to look closely—you might just have a hidden treasure on your hands.

因此，下次当您把手伸进口袋或检查零钱时，请花点时间仔细观察——您的手上可能藏着一个隐藏的宝藏。