A rare £2 coin with a minting error that makes it look like a fried egg has sold for £134.08 — more than 67 times its face value. The 2015 coin, featuring Queen Elizabeth II on the front and the Standing on the Shoulders of Giants design on the reverse, was sold on July 23 after a bidding war.
What is the 'fried egg error'?
The 'fried egg error' is a type of minting mistake that affects bi-metallic coins, including the UK £1 and £2 coins. It occurs when the silver-coloured inner disc of the coin appears to leak out from the centre of the design, resembling the yolk of a runny egg. This error is thought to have driven the coin's value up and prompted 19 bids on the item.
Sale details and listing
The listing read: "2015 UK Two Pound Fried Egg Error Circulated Coin. Condition and error shown in photos. Used condition." Bidding started at just £3.95 before a keen bidder secured the coin for £134.08 on July 23. That means the coin sold for more than 67 times its shop value, and the sale is likely to have Brits checking their change for the same error.
History of the £2 coin
First issued in 1998, the £2 was the first bi-colour coin minted in the UK. Since then, several different variations of the coin have been produced. Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, a new obverse portrait was introduced. King Charles III's first coin portrait was designed by sculptor and designer Martin Jennings. The reverse of the current £2 coin features the flowers of the four nations of the UK — Rose, Thistle, Daffodil and Shamrock — alongside a design of interconnecting letter 'C's to represent King Charles III.
