Rare 20p coin worth more than 250 times its face value - what to look for

The coins have been dubbed the 'holy grail' of change collecting and if you find one it could be worth a lot more than 20p

A rare 20p coin could fetch more than 250 times its face value to someone lucky enough to find one.

The coins have been dubbed the 'holy grail' of change collecting and if you find one it could be worth a lot more than 20p.

In 2008 a minting error meant for the first time in centuries coins left the Royal Mint without a date.

As it is so unusual it has meant the coin is much sought after and ranges in price from £50 to over £90.

The 20p coin was highlighted on Instagram by Coin Collecting Wizard.

He told how someone had asked him about a coin dated from 1982 - the year 20p pieces were first introduced. They entered circulation on June 9, 1982, 10 years after decimalisation, in a bid to reduce the weight of the money carried in purses and pockets.

But while he said a 1982 coin was nothing to get excited about there was one 20p which was worth much more.

He explained: "So I was sent this video from earlier where this person has found a 20p coin 1982 and they are so excited.

"But guess what - a 20 pence coin from 1982 is just 20 pence and not rare or valuable. The only 20p that you need to look out for is the undated mule error which is around £50 considered by many as one of the holy grain change collecting the undated 20p is always at the top of any coin collector's wish list.

"In 2008 an unknown amount of 20p coins were struck with the wrong die resulting in no date of the obverse or reverse side of the coin."

He said this was due to a mix up at the Royal Mint when the new royal shield of arms design was introduced.

"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 said ebay sales showed it selling for around £50.

However it could go for more with one buyer paying £60.51 for the sought after coin and another £59.

Other sales had gone even higher with one nearing £100. That coin sold for £97 plus £3.35 postage after nine bids.

The mistake happened when the Royal Mint changed its design for the 20p coins in 2008, moving the date from the back to the front.

At some point, the old die was accidentally used which meant some coins were released without a date on either side.

According to Change Checker the Royal Mint estimates that "no more than 250,000 coins" could have entered circulation.

It explained what had happened saying: "In 2008, the reverse of each denomination from 1p to £1 was redesigned by Matthew Dent to feature a different part of the Royal Arms Shield.

"The 20p had previously included the date on the reverse, but with the entire face of the coin now being dedicated to the new design, the Royal Mint produced a new die with the date on the obverse (Queen’s head) side.

"However, when the new Royal Shield 20p coins were struck for circulation, the old die was accidentally used, meaning a batch was issued with no date on either side of the coin."