Royal Mint error sees 'dateless' 20p coins valued at £50

[PeteC]

Keep your eyes open. Some profit to be made here! Pete
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LONDON (AFP) – A rather costly error by the Royal Mint has seen the issue of tens of thousands of 'dateless' 20p coins -- driving their value up to around 50 pounds each.
There are believed to be between 50,000 and 200,000 of the coins now in circulation, all of them missing the 2009 stamp which was supposed to appear on the back -- or 'heads' side -- of the coin.
It was the first time an undated coin entered circulation in more than 300 years -- the last such error occurred in 1672 under the reign of Charles II.
Describing the mistake as "incredibly rare", the Royal Mint said the error occurred last year during a redesign of every denomination of coin.
The old 20p coin had the date on the front of the coin, but the updated version was supposed to shift the date to the other side. But the coins were minted using an old version of the Queen's head -- one which which does not carry the year.
The London Mint office, a private company specialising in collector coins which has no link to the Royal Mint, is now offering anyone who has one of the dateless coins the chance to cash in.
Nick Hart, a spokesperson for The London Mint Office, said the error could bring the fun of coin collecting to a much wider audience.
"Mistakes like this not only fascinate people but also have considerable value increase significance," he said.
"We believe this extremely rare error will certainly get the public looking at the coins in their pockets again and noticing the excellent new designs launched by the Royal Mint last year on our coinage."
Anyone wanting to trade in their coins should register the find with The London Mint Office.

[Big Boy]

I don't understand, the article doesn't state why it's a costly mistake Is somebody going to sue the Royal Mint?

[STEVE G]

Yes, I can see that they're worth more but the Mint hasn't actually lost anything unless they have to spend time chasing after them all to withdraw them.

[PeteC]

If someone finds one, it's worth considering just keeping it for a few years rather than getting the 50 pounds now. They could very well be worth much more down the road, especially if in mint condition. Pete

[Tony_S]

the fun of coin collecting

I will have to try this coin collecting....hmmm not had any fun for weeks

[caller]

A little while ago, my wife was going to buy something in the charity shop she used to work at when the manager told her not use a certain coin, can't recall which one now, as it was worth more than the value. Checked on the web and it was, albeit only a few pounds, so out of curiosity I checked the other old coins I had flung in a jar, mainly UK pre-decimal - a threepenny bit, a tanner here and there, older coins and the like. They were easy to find and the total value of these old keepsakes, most not deliberately collected, is about £250!

Came as a pleasant surprise.

[PeteC]

Some folks may be able to get their airfare to/from Thailand just by looking through their coin jars. Pete

[Big Boy]

Hmmm, got me thinking. Years ago my father gave me a 1952 sixpence and told me to keep it safe as one day it would be worth something. Just checked on the net, and it's worth £39.95.

I've half a dozen American dollar coins as well - somebody told me that they would be worth something one day as well. Unfortunately, they're not so easy to look up - any ideas?

[Randy Cornhole]

This 20p malarky was on the BBC news tonight. Someone has just paid over £2000 for one undated 20p on ebay........!!!

Sweet Buddha's toe strap has the world gone insane...

[PeteC]

Hmmm, got me thinking. Years ago my father gave me a 1952 sixpence and told me to keep it safe as one day it would be worth something. Just checked on the net, and it's worth £39.95.

I've half a dozen American dollar coins as well - somebody told me that they would be worth something one day as well. Unfortunately, they're not so easy to look up - any ideas?

I assume they're silver dollars BB. Unless they're from back in the 1800's or some very unique run, they're usually not worth very much. Do a google and put in who is on the face i.e., "liberty silver dollar (date)", and it should lead to some sites where values are listed. Pete

[bluezephyr]

I have a few old coins i found metal detecting years ago, Not worth a fortune but all together i could probably make my next trip to Hua Hin not seem like a lifetime away. Theres a silver dime there aswell
My mother sells kindling and plants and veg out the front, she has quite a collection of change! unfortunately no special 20 pence pieces.

One thing with coin collecting, dont they scrutinise coins for flaws, Isnt a scratch on a valuable coin like as if someone painted titties on the mona lisa?

I bet Great Yarmouth, Southend and Blackpool came to a standstill today while all the purveyors of seafront tat checked their machines coin trays.

[hhfarang]

I have a sack full of old us coins including many silver dollars from the 1880s and 1890s. I checked the value of each one recently and the most valuable one was worth about $15. It seems for them to be worth a lot they have to be a certain date and from a certain mint which makes them more rare than the rest.

They (the U.S.) made zinc coated steel (instead of copper) pennies in 1943 for only a year as all copper was needed in the WWII war effort. They are comonly called "lead" pennies as they look like lead when they get dull from use and they are heavier than the copper ones. I've heard that one of those in good condition is worth a bundle. I remember seeing them as a young boy in the '50s but never thought about saving a few!

Hindsight is 20-20!

[STEVE G]

I've quite often been in bars in Luxembourg and have been offered a bit more for Luxembourg minted Euro coins by tourists.
Although it's a common currency, each country mints their own with various national symbols on the back, and a small country like Luxembourg obviously doesn't mint that many so they're a bit harder to find than say a German or French Euro.