A RARE marking on your 50p coin could mean it’s worth 400 times its normal value.
The Isle of Man TT 1997 50p large features a sketch of Phillip McCallen riding in the famous TT motorcycle race.
One of the ultra-rare coins has sold on eBay for an unbelievable £218.
The coin launched a bidding war, with 11 attempts made to nab the incredible design.
The Isle of Man is host to the famous TT motorcycle race – and these 50ps have taken the chequered flag when it comes to value.
Isle of Man coins used to be made by the Pobjoy mint in Surrey – as it’s a Crown Dependency, the island issues its own notes and coins.
The larger 50p coin is “very rare” according to the seller – 1997 was the year the bigger-sized coin was replaced with the smaller one.
Other rare 50ps have also been gaining traction online recently, including a Blue Peter 50p which sold for £216.
Rare coins and valuable notes can be worth tens of thousands of times their face value.
But sometimes it’s just tiny differences which make them so lucrative.
The most valuable coins tend to be ones with low mintage numbers or an error.
Those qualities typically make them valuable to collectors.
Your next step would be to check if your coin is still available to purchase in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality from an official Royal Mint distributor, according to Change Checker.
Certified Brilliant Uncirculated coins have been specially struck to a superior unblemished quality which sets them apart from the coins you may find in pockets.
There are many different factors to consider when trying to value a coin, including its condition and mintage, so it’s important to do your homework first.
If you’ve got a coin that you would like to sell at auction, you can contact The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service.
It has a team of experts who can help you to authenticate and value your coin.
You’ll need to enquire via email, and a member of the valuation team will contact get back to you.
Take a picture of your coin and attach this to the email – you can find the details on The Royal Mint’s website.
Be aware that you will be charged for this service though – the cost will vary depending on the size of your collection.
If you are looking to buy a coin online through a marketplace such as eBay, it’s important to know exactly what you are purchasing.
This is because anyone can list a coin on eBay and charge whatever amount they wish.
You should also be wary of fakes online – and keep in mind that on eBay a buyer could pull out, which means the coin won’t have sold for the price it says it has.
HERE are some tricks to keep your valuable coins safe from toning:
