Coin collectors are being urged to check their change for rare 20p pieces that could be worth hundreds of pounds. The most sought-after is the undated 20p, minted in 2008 when the Royal Mint accidentally used an old die, leaving the coin without a date on either side. This was the first circulating coin in over 300 years to lack a date. Experts at ChangeChecker estimate the undated 20p is worth around £50, though eBay listings have reached as high as £20,000. In November 2018, one sold for £224.81.
Even rarer is the bronze 20p, created between 1982 and 1990 when blank 1p coins were mistakenly struck as 20ps. Made of bronze instead of cupro-nickel, these coins are thinner than standard 20ps. In August 2018, one verified bronze 20p sold on eBay for £900. The Royal Mint confirmed the error, stating that a bronze blank intended for another coin was mixed in with 20p blanks and struck in error.
To spot these valuable coins, look for the absence of a date on both sides of the 2008 undated 20p. For the bronze 20p, check the colour and weight—bronze is lighter and more reddish than the usual cupro-nickel. Experts recommend having any suspected error coins verified by the Royal Mint before seeking a valuation.
