The 20p mule coin: the 'error' coin that's now worth almost 100000 times its face value

The 20p piece is a “mule” coin dating from 2008 and was minted without a date on the coin due to an error. The mistake means the coin is considered a collector's item.

A rare 20p coin dating from 2008 and minted without a date on the coin due to an error has sold for an astonishing £97,485 on eBay.

The mistake means the coin is considered a collector’s item, after a batch of coins were issued without dates in 2008 due to an error in the minting process.

An example of a rare undated 20p mule coin (Image: eBay/Getty/Vandervelden)

Prior to November of that year, the date on 20p coins would be found on the tail side.

However, the Royal Mint switched it so that the date would now be next to the Queen’s head.

A mistake in 2008 led to the old format being used on the Queen’s side and the new format being used on tails side.

As a result, the first batch of British coins with no date on them was released into circulation for the first time in more than 300 years.

Around 250,000 20p coins minted in November 2008 are believed to have entered circulation with no date.

And now one has sold on eBay, attracting a winning bid of £97, 485 times its face value.