new 20p coins worth 50 quid

[Amby 490]

A rare error at the Royal Mint means tens of thousands of 20p coins produced earlier this year are worth £50 each.

The coins do not have the date stamped on them because of the blunder after the redesign of the 20p piece, reports the Daily Mail.

The Mint does not know exactly how many undated coins were produced and released into circulation, but estimates range between 50,000 and 200,000.

It's the first undated British coin to enter circulation in more than 300 years - the last occasion was 1672, when Charles II was on the throne.

The problem occurred after all the coins from the 1p through to the £1 were redesigned last year. The change of the 20p design meant moving the year date from the tails side to the side with the Queen's head.

However, thousands of coins were minted using the old version of the Queen's head, which does not have the year date, and the new version of the tails side, which also does not have a date.

No one knows how much the undated 20p is worth. However, The London Mint Office, a private company with no connection to the Royal Mint, is offering £50 a time to anyone who has one.

Nick Hart, coin expert at the London Mint Office, said: "Mistakes like this not only fascinate people but also have considerable value-increase significance.

"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 on our coinage."

People who find an undated new 20p can find details of the London Mint Office offer at www.undated20p.com.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3381033.html?menu=

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

People will buy any old #######.

[scandal 951]

From the photo, doesn't something look wrong with the tail side? The rampant lion is cut off, to the side, like it's been stamped wrong? Is that actually intentional? Looks weird.

[rebeccajo 14]

From the photo, doesn't something look wrong with the tail side? The rampant lion is cut off, to the side, like it's been stamped wrong? Is that actually intentional? Looks weird.

It's supposed to be that way.

There are seven coins in this issue. The 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20 p and 50p are each parts of a 'puzzle' which, when put together, comprise the shield of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

The seventh coin is the 1 pound coin, which shows the shield in its entirety on the back. It's a lovely coin.

Edited June 29, 2009 by rebeccajo