‘Rare’ 5p coin sells for 100 occasions its worth due to uncommon manufacturing error – so do YOU have one in your pockets?
A ‘rare’ 5p coin has been sold for 100 times its value thanks to a defect which was minted on it.
The 2012 design was snapped up for £5 on eBay and features Queen Elizabeth II on the front with a Royal Shield on the reverse.
It was deemed an unusual find due to an extra bit of metal being present on the shield, which the seller believes is the result of ‘cracked dye being used’ in production.
The coin was bought for £5, with a £1 postage fee, on Sunday, March 22.
It was listed as a ‘rare’, with the error thought to have made its value skyrocket.
A ‘rare’ 5p coin has been sold for 100 times its value thanks to a defect which was minted on it
The listing read: ‘A Circulated, British, 2012, Elizabeth II, Minting Error, 5p Coin.
‘The error is a small globule of metal on the reverse which I believe is the result of a cracked die being used.
‘The coin is in circulated condition, as can be seen from the photographs.’
The coin, which features, Matthew Dent’s Royal Shield of Arms design, was first introduced into circulation in 2008. The design also appears on coins up to the value of 50p.
When united, and carefully arranged in the correct order, the 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p, make up the Royal Arms in its entirety.
While the find could make many Britons rummage around in their wallets, the final and rarest batch of Queen Elizabeth II £1 coins – which were minted the year she died and entered circulation in 2025 – are also worth keeping an eye on.
More than 23million Queen coins were released alongside 7.5million new King Charles III £1 coins.
The Royal Mint said the last of the Elizabeth II coins, dated 2022, are the rarest £1 coins in active circulation.
The dual release of almost 31million coins represents a significant moment for UK coinage, as the nation sees the changeover from Britain’s longest-reigning monarch to her son, the Royal Mint said.
The Queen’s £1 coins will be the final ones bearing Elizabeth II’s portrait to enter circulation.
The Royal Mint is encouraging the public to check its change over the coming weeks, as the new coins begin to appear in pockets and tills across the nation.
Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said: ‘This release represents a pivotal moment in British coinage history.
‘As we release more of the King Charles III £1 coins into circulation alongside the final coins of Queen Elizabeth II, we’re witnessing the physical representation of our monarchy’s transition.
‘This dual release creates an exceptional opportunity for both seasoned numismatists and those new to coin collecting.’
She added: ‘Finding these new coins in your change could spark a rewarding hobby that connects you with the heritage, history and craftsmanship behind British currency.’
Since the introduction of the King’s likeness on coins in 2023, the 50p and £1 are the only denominations with Charles’s portrait to have entered circulation so far.
The King’s £1 coins feature an intricate bee design on the reverse and are part of the Definitive collection, inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles.
Some 2.975million £1 coins with Charles’s image were released in August 2024.
In total, there are around 24.7billion coins in circulation across the UK, with the King’s coins representing only around 0.004 per cent of those, making his new coins highly desirable to collectors.
All UK coins bearing the Queen’s portrait will remain legal tender and in active circulation to allow a smooth transition and minimise the environmental impact and cost.
