Rare Royal Mint £1 coin with error sells for more than £300

The 2018, which features Queen Elizabeth II on the front and the Nations of the Crown design on the reverse, was minted with an error <i>(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)</i>
The 2018, which features Queen Elizabeth II on the front and the Nations of the Crown design on the reverse, was minted with an error (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
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We are all being urged to check our change after a rare £1 coin sold for more than £300 because of an error during the minting process.

The 2018, which features Queen Elizabeth II on the front and the Nations of the Crown design on the reverse, was minted with an error making it look like a fried egg.

The minting error can affect bi-metallic coins including the UK £1 and £2 coins.

The error happens when the silver-coloured inner disk of the coin appears to leak out from the centre of the design, like the yolk of a runny egg.

(Image: Kennedy News & Media)

The listing description describes the wonky coin as a “unique collectible”, with the error making its value skyrocket.

The listing reads: "Here we have a rare 2018 £1 coin from the United Kingdom with an offset centre design, also known as a 'fried egg' error coin.

"This coin is in circulated condition.

"The error design adds a unique and collectible element to this coin, making it a sought-after item for numismatists and enthusiasts alike."

One keen bidder snapped up the coin for £305.20 on eBay last week.

The £1 coin was first issued in April 1983 to replace the £1 note.

To make it easy to identify, the round £1 coin was thicker than other coins, while its 'yellow' colour allowed it to stand out from the cupro-nickel 'silver' coins already in circulation.

Since then, there have been several different variations of the coin.

In 2017, the familiar £1 round coin was replaced with an all new, 12-sided £1 coin.

What makes a coin valuable?

The 50 pence piece has become the most valued and collected coin in the UK, with many collectable designs appearing on its heptagonal canvas.

Its 27.5mm diameter makes it the largest of any British coin , and allows space for decorative pictures. It has often been used to celebrate big events over the past 50 years of British history.

The rarest coins tend to be of the greatest value, with the mintage (number of coins with each design made) being the fundamental attraction for collectors.

Along with the design, other aspects of the coin which increase value are the condition of the coin and whether it has an error in its design.

The way in which it is sold can also determine the coin’s value - while some coin collectors will bid vast amounts of money on eBay or at auction, others opt for more robust valuations by selling via a coin dealer.

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