AVID coin collector Oliver Evans has only just realised how valuable one of his 20p coins could be.
Oliver, 23, who lives in Southend, seems to be the only person known in the world to have the ultra-rare 1982 20p.
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The error coin is missing the design on one of its faces.
The coin’s tail is still intact, but there is no telling where the Queen‘s head has got to.
It’s the opposite error to that noted on a 20p coin that was missing its tail end and it sold for a whopping £430 on eBay in December 2021.
The rare minting error was likely down to a separate rogue 20p coin blank being struck by the obverse and reverse dies, but struck a second time with the reverse die.
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It was said at the time that somewhere out there there’s another 20p with this coin’s missing design on.
Oliver believes that he has that very coin after adding it to his collection a couple of years ago.
The 23-year-old IT consultant told The Sun: “I’ve been collecting change that’s been in circulation since I was a child and my collection now boasts between 70 and 80 coins.
“I never really thought much of my 1982 20p without the Queen’s head until I came across a story in The Sun about a similar coin with its tail missing.
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“I was overjoyed to learn that I could have the sister of this original error coin and it has the potential to be worth hundreds of pounds.”
Oliver said he’s keen to get the coin’s error verified by The Royal Mint.
When asked if he’d consider selling it he said: “If I ever found the right place or price to sell it then I would be keen.
“But the chances of me wanting to sell it is slim – if it’s as rare as my research suggests then it’ll be staying in my collection for good.”
Kate Morgan of Change Checker said: “This coin definitely has the potential to be very collectable, however, the error would need to be verified by The Royal Mint.
Members of the public can do this via the Coin Valuation – Authentication & Valuation page on royalmint.com.
“Unfortunately, coins can sometimes be tampered with to look like an error, so all official errors are verified by The Royal Mint,” said Kate.
“There are some key factors to check for when looking at a potential error coin.
“You can check the thickness of the coin, if it’s noticeably thinner than others then it could have had the design filed away.
“You can also check for scratches as that would also be an indication of filing or tampering with a coin.”
How do I find out what my coin is worth?
You can compare rare coins on online auction sites to get an idea of how much they might be worth.
Websites like Coin Hunter and even The Royal Mint itself can help verify any loose change you’ve got.
Remember though if you are looking to sell a coin the price you get depends on what someone is willing to pay on the day.
Sometimes buyers pull out after an auction has ended too, so the coin may not have actually sold for the price it says it did.
Also, keep an eye out for fake coins, as they do exist, so make sure to do your research and seek a professional opinion if necessary.
How to sell rare and valuable coins
There are two main ways you can sell rare coins – through eBay or at auction.
If you want to sell the coin you’ve found in your spare change on eBay then you need to know the risks.
Remember to set a minimum price that is higher or at the very least equal to the face value of the coin.
Even if your coin “sells” on eBay for a high price there’s no guarantee that the buyer will cough up.
In its terms and conditions, the auction website states that bidders enter a “legally binding contract to purchase an item”, but there’s no way to enforce this rule in reality.
The most eBay can do is add a note to their account of the unpaid item or remove their ability to bid and buy.
This is because in order to sign up to the website users do not need to put in valid bank or PayPal details before making a bid.
If a bidder refuses to pay, then the only option for sellers is to give “second chance offers” to other bidders or re-list the item.
For items of a high value, eBay recommends that sellers put a limit on their listing to approve bidders.
It means bidders must email you before placing a bid but not that they must pay out the cash if they win.
If you’ve got a coin that you would like to sell at auction then you can contact a member of the British Numismatic Trade Association.
They usually deal in very old coins but they may be able to help you assess whether it’s worth selling your coin at auction or whether it would be valuable to a collector.
They’ll usually charge you a fee for the service or take a percentage of the sale money.
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You’ll often have to visit them in person with the coin in order for them to assess it.
Helpfully you can sort the members according to the county where they are based.
