According to the expert there are some key things to check before splashing out on buying coins
An expert has issued a warning about a “very common” UK coin after one seller listed it on eBay for a whopping £10,000. Certain coins can be worth a lot more than their face value.
This is typically the case if a coin is especially rare or has an unusual minting error. However, others are not so valuable.
In a video posted to social media platform TikTok, an expert known as the Coin Collecting Wizard, warned that some coins may be listed for unrealistic prices. He explained that he’d read a news article about an eBay listing in which a 1981 commemorative coin was priced at £10,000.
This coin is a crown 25p coin. It featured the image of Charles and Diana on one side.
However, lots of these coins were made, rendering them far less pricey than this listing would suggest. He said: “I came across this news article yesterday regarding the coin being worth 10 grand and I could not believe it.
“The 1981 Charles and Diana coin. This coin was made to celebrate Charles and Diana’s wedding.
“And guess what? They made millions of them. Literally millions. That means almost everyone’s nan has one in a drawer somewhere.”
He described more about the coin. “It’s a commemorative crown – a large 25p coin,” he said
“Even though it’s bigger than a modern 50p, it’s officially worth 25 pence. It’s made of cupro nickel, not silver or gold, so its metal value is basically just a few pennies.
“Some were sold in presentation cases, like in blue boxes or red wallets, but even those are very common.” He added: “Absolutely none worth £10,000 unless maybe there’s a freak error, and even that would have to be authenticated.”
To get a better understanding of how much coins are actually worth he suggested looking for examples of the coin in the sold listings on eBay as some sellers as “crazy prices”. He continued: “If you ever see a coin on eBay listed for thousands, check the sold listings, not the asking prices.”
At the time of reporting an example of this coin was listed on eBay for £10,086.70 or “best offer”. However, looking at sold listings you find them for much more reasonable prices of £2.24, £3.75, and £2.21.
The Westminster Collection, is also currently selling one of these coins for £12.50. Providing more information on the coin its website said: “Before £5 coins, major Royal events and national celebrations were marked by The Royal Mint with Crown Coins – struck to the exact same specification as today’s £5 coins.
“And to celebrate the wedding of Charles and Diana in July 1981, The Royal Mint produced a commemorative crown tariffed at 25 pence, although no denomination was actually inscribed on the coin.
“For the first time, three people were portrayed on a British coin simultaneously; the reverse featuring the conjoined profiles of the bridal couple – His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. This historic UK coin was one of just four decimal crown coins ever to be struck.”
