ONE rare detail to spot on a first edition 50p coin reveals whether it’s worth up to £2,000.
Rare coins can be found in your spare change and are sometimes worth a small fortune.
Generally, a piece will be considered rare if a low amount was struck and put into circulation or if it was pressed incorrectly.
One coin meets both these criteria, with just hundreds made and featuring an error detail on one side.
The “Lines Over Face” Aquatics 50p was first struck in 2011, with 600 put into circulation.
The coin features lines across a swimmers’ face which makes it incredibly rare and sought after, with bidders willing to pay over the odds for one.
In one recent video, TikTok creator and coin collecting fanatic CoinCollectingWizard revealed how the piece can sell for as much as £2,000.
He explained: “If you find an Aquatic 50p error coin with lines over the face it could be worth a small fortune.
“A small handful of this original design was put into circulation but it was then adapted very quickly to show the face above the water.
“With so few of the original design out there it’s meant the coin’s value has been pushed up significantly.”
It’s worth bearing in mind, if you stumble across a Lines Over Face Aquatics 50p, you might not get as much as £2,000 for it.
A rare coin is only worth what the bidder is willing to pay for it at that time.
A coin is usually classed as rare if a limited amount were struck, or a manufacturing error occurred when they were being made.
A low mintage figure, which is set by The Royal Mint, relates to how many of a coin were made.
Generally, the lower that figure, the more buyers are willing to pay for it, although this isn’t always the case.
You can find out what coins are rare and how they look on The Royal Mint’s website.
The Change Checker website has scarcity indices too – these tell you how many of a particular coin were minted.
When it comes to error coins, how much you’ll get for them varies from piece to piece.
For example, the HG Wells £2 error coin has been known to sell for up to £1,000 in the past.
Bronze 20p coins have been known to sell for up to £750 as well while error £1 coins have been known to go for £1,000s.
You can sell a rare coin on eBay, Facebook, or in an auction.
If you’re selling on Facebook, there are risks attached.
Sellers have previously been targeted by scammers on Facebook pretending to need a courier to pick a coin up and asking for payment, but it’s a ruse and the courier is never sent.
To avoid this happening, it’s always best to meet a Facebook seller in-person when buying or selling anything.
Ensure it’s a public meeting spot that’s in a well-lit area and if you can, avoid using payment links.
Most sellers prefer to deal with cash directly when meeting to ensure it’s legitimate.
The safest way to sell a rare coin is more than likely at auction. You can organise this with The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service.
It has a team of experts who can help you authenticate and value your coin.
You can get in touch via email and a member of the valuation team will get back to you.
You will be charged for the service though – the cost varies depending on the size of your collection.
You can also sell rare coins on eBay.
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