COIN experts have revealed how to spot the rare coin that could be worth up to 800 times its original value.
The unusual 10p coin was minted in 2018 and has a specific mark that collectors and amateurs should keep an eye out for.
Part of the “Great British Coin Hunt“, the collection of change was created with a nod to various things that could be considered “quintessentially British”.
From fish and chips to James Bond, the uniquely-designed range was quickly snapped up as it was a popular hit.
Advertised on eBay, some of the coins are estimated to go for around £80 with a full collection being listed for just under £200.
The Royal Mint even sold a collector’s album to hold that year’s uncirculated and circulated editions.
Describing the coin hunt, the website reveals that 26 different coins were released.
Each one represented a different letter of the alphabet and featured a Great British icon.
From landmarks like Stonehenge to a Double Decker Bus, the Quintessential A to Z was a nod to the Nation’s heritage.
It is thought some lucky individuals could be unknowing owners of the coins and it has been advised people check their loose change and pockets.
The Royal Mint post read: “To mark the London 2012 Games, The Royal Mint struck a set of 29 designs featuring Olympic and Paralympic sports onto a set of commemorative 50p coins.
“A number of them also entered circulation.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”The three coins to check in your holiday change that could be worth up to £2.9million” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6368593565112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]“The coins were the talk of Britain amongst families, neighbours, colleagues and friends, capturing the imagination of the nation, as people from all generations checked their change enthusiastically for the designs they were ‘missing’ from their collection.
“Those who simply wished to obtain a full set for themselves had fun buying the commemorative coin editions for themselves.
“A year on from the games, 70 per cent of the circulating editions had disappeared from the nation’s change, seized by would-be coin collectors for their piggy banks, collector folders and money boxes, indicating the popularity of coin hunting with the British public.
“The Great British Coin Hunt’ provides a similar challenge to collect A to Z designs, struck onto the popular, easily accessible, 10p piece.
“The Quintessentially British A-Z 10p coins are back by popular demand and making a return in 2019 to allow the nation to continue to collect the series for another year.”
What makes a coin rare?
One of the most common types of coins to collect are 50p pieces.
This is due to their large surface area, as there is enough space to add designs to.
With a 27.5mm diameter, it’s the biggest British coin and is used to celebrate big events like anniversaries, historical occasions, or sport fixtures.
During the Olympics, a range of themed 50p coins were printed – with the Aquatics 50p reaching up to an eye-watering £2,000 in auction.
This coin jumped in price due to an initial design error, which was quickly corrected, leading to very few misprints in circulation.
Mistakes make a coin unique as they will most likely be worth more, as there a fewer of them.
Even without a design error, if a coin has a low mintage there are fewer of them in circulation and so are deemed rare.
By and large, the rarer the coin the more valuable they are to collectors.
How to sell a rare coin
Handy auction websites like eBay, Facebook marketplace, or trading apps can be easy to use – but there are risks.
Even though these sites are somewhat regulated, fraudsters may try and target sellers by asking to purchase the item and ask for money upfront for a courier.
You might find yourself waiting for them to show up as they’re only claiming to use a courier to nab some cash.
Links, payment URLs and transaction portals sent online are also risky and it’s advisable to meet up face to face.
Expert sellers sometimes recommend handling cash to limit the risk of online scams.
It’s often advised to take your rare coins to an auction to be safe.
Getting a specialist opinion through The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service can help you authenticate and value your coin.
Hitting the rare-coin jackpot could see you cashing in thousands if you get your hands on the right one.