Royal Mint: Rare 20p with error sold for huge sum on eBay

The rare 20p coin with a major printed error was one of a few Twenty Pence pieces struck without the year in November 2008.

According to The Britannia Coin Company of Royal Wootton Bassett, the Royal Mint had 136 million Twenty Pence printed that money and only about 250,000 coins were minted with this unique error.

READ MORE: Check your change as rare 50p coin sells for huge profit

One seller in Birmingham made a huge profit after they sold their mishap coin for £61.09 - over 205x its face value.

The buyer also had to fork out £1.95 for postage.

Bidding started on the coin at 99p, and 16 potential buyers battled it out to secure it for £61.09.

The seller on eBay described the coin as: "A genuine rare undated 20 pence coin.

READ MORE: 'Rare' 50p coin designed by members of the public sells for 14x its face value

"Grading is subjective, so please judge for yourself, but I have graded it at choice uncirculated for the purposes of inclusion into my own collection.

"I have started to bidding at 99p with no reserve.

"I am happy to combine postage."

They are among many eBay sellers selling their 20p coins for a huge sum, with many selling theirs for between £50 and £70. 

The Britannia Coin Company of Royal Wootton Bassett, a coin-selling website, sells their 20p coins for £90.

READ MORE: Worcestershire seller makes a tidy profit after selling this Olympic-theme 50p

The site says: "The issue occurred because an old obverse ('heads') design was used with the new royal shield of arms reverse, introduced in this year.

"The previous Tudor rose design had the date on either side of the crown. When this was replaced with the shield, the date was moved to the other side. 

"It was moved on most 20ps but not these ones, which bear no date at all.

"These coins have been circulated, so they will show the signs of wear typical of change that has been in wallets and cash registers.

"The only difference is this unusual error."