This small error on the 50p coin has been spotted with a £25,000 price tag online. It’s quite a common piece which is also special to many collectors out there
You could be sitting on a mega fortune if certain rare coins wind up in your change. It’s no secret some designs out there are more desirable than others, for example the rarest £2 with a key historic detail.
Just recently all UK collectors were urged to not spend the “rarest Olympic coin” out there. However, not all pieces are worth a lot of money, and you might be fooled by a price tag from time-to-time. One coin expert and collector recently issued an important message about a Beatrix Potter coin which features Peter Rabbit on the front. These coins were released around Easter between 2016 and 2020 with it also marking the first time a fictional character appeared on a UK coin.
In a post on Instagram, the expert, known as @CoinCollectingWizard, who boasts over 37,000 followers, shared: “A penny error on a 50p coin is now selling for £25,000, do you have this coin?”
Speaking about the Peter Rabbit coin, he added: “Due to their popularity, the following year the Royal Mint released four additional Beatrix Potter themed coins with almost 20million put into circulation.
“This included the tale of Peter Rabbit coin and one observant coin collector noticed their coin had a slight defect on Peter Rabbit’s foot. The coin has a lump of metal of Peter Rabbit’s foot and they have decided to list the coin for thousands of pounds on eBay.”
But before you get carried away – there’s many of these coins which come with a little bit of extra metal, known as a cud error.
The expert added: “This doesn’t suddenly mean the coin is rare and valuable… They do sometimes sell for a little bit more than face value but I guarantee you this Peter Rabbit 50p coin is not worth £25,000.”
What is a cud error?
This is when a coin features a raised, blob-like defect caused when a piece of the minting die breaks off at the edge.
Due to the metal filling this void during striking, this results in a cud appearing as a raised area on the coin surface. This obliterates the design and touches the rim.
While in some cases they’re not worth anything, a fair few can still be sought after by collectors, making them valuable mint errors. Don’t forget – a true cud must involve the rim of the coin.
If you suspect you own a rare coin, it’s best to consult a professional who can have it valued for you.
Once you’ve received confirmation the rare coin is genuine, you can decide whether to sell it at auction for a good price, or even eBay.
Alternatively, holding onto these gems can be great if you own a collection.
