Ever popped your loose change into a jar without a second look? You might want to dig it out and give it a proper once-over. In the UK, those everyday 20 pence coins that clink in your pocket could be worth a bob or two more than their face value. Since the 20p first hit the streets back in 1982, a handful of dodgy minting jobs and one-off designs have turned some into collector’s gold. We’re talking sums that could pay off a chunk of your mortgage or treat the family to a fancy holiday. With auctions fetching eye-watering prices, now’s the time to spot these gems before they vanish into private collections. From trial pieces to blank-faced blunders, here’s the lowdown on the top five rare 20p coins that could make you a tidy sum.
The Mystery of the Missing Date
Top of the pile has to be the famous undated 20p from 2008. This little error happened when the Royal Mint mixed up the dies during a big redesign of our coins. Instead of showing the year on the Queen’s side, it came out blank as a politician’s promise. Only about 250,000 of these slipped out into circulation among 136 million normal ones, making them a proper needle in a haystack. Folks have snapped them up for £50 to £100 on sites like eBay, but in mint condition, they can climb to £200 or more at auction. It’s the kind of find that gets numismatists that’s coin boffins to you and me all excited, and it’s still legal tender, so you could technically buy a pint with it if you’re feeling cheeky.
Trial Run Gone Wild
Before settling on 20p, the Royal Mint toyed with making it a 25p back in the early 80s. They knocked out a batch of trial coins marked ‘Experimental’ and ‘Royal Mint Trial’, complete with a shield and orb design that’s a dead ringer for the final version but with that extra five pence promise. No one knows exactly how many exist, but experts reckon fewer than 50 are floating about. One lucky sod found his in change years ago and just flogged it for a whopping £1,700 at auction last month that’s over 8,500 times its would-be value. If you’ve got an old heptagonal hanger in your drawer with ‘1981’ and those trial words, you could be sitting on a windfall worth £500 to £700 easy, or more if it’s pristine.
Blank Side Surprise
Imagine a coin that’s half there and half missing that’s the blank reverse 20p for you. This freak came about when a planchet, the blank metal disc, stuck to the die and got struck twice, leaving one side smooth as a baby’s bum. It’s a one-in-a-million fluke, with just a handful known. The most famous one sold for around £100 back in the day, but values have crept up to £50-£100 now, depending on how shiny it stays. Spot it by flipping over your 20p and seeing nothing but plain metal where the crown and lion should be. Not as pricey as the others, but it’s a cracker for error hunters and could still pad your wallet nicely.
Wrong Way Round Wobble
Off-centre strikes happen when the metal disc shifts during minting, so the design lands lopsided like a wonky picture frame. These 20p errors aren’t tied to a specific year, but the rarer the misalignment, the better the payout. We’ve seen them go for five to ten times a normal coin’s worth on eBay – think £10 for a mild wander, up to £100 for a proper skewwhiff job. It’s all about the condition and how extreme the error is; the more daft it looks, the more punters will pay. Keep an eye on your change for that telltale tilt – it’s like finding a squint brick in a perfect wall.
Big Head Legacy
Last but not least, the large head 20p from the 80s and early 90s. Before they shrank the Queen’s portrait in 2008 to make room for fancier designs, the old ones had a bigger noggin that takes up more space on the obverse. Minted in huge numbers originally, but the wear and tear means uncirculated examples are getting scarce. They fetch £2 to £10 from collectors who love that retro vibe, nothing life-changing but a nice bonus if you’ve got a roll of them stashed away. Look for the fuller face and chunkier lettering compared to today’s slimmer version.
To give you the quick rundown on what these beauties could be worth, here’s a handy table based on recent sales:
| Coin Type | Rarity Factor | Average Value (£) | Record Sale (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undated Mule 2008 | High | 50-100 | 200 |
| 25p Trial 1981 | Very High | 500-700 | 1,700 |
| Blank Reverse Error | Extreme | 50-100 | 100 |
| Off-Centre Strike | Medium | 10-50 | 100 |
| Large Head Pre-2008 | Low | 2-10 | 10 |
These aren’t millionaire-makers every time no 20p’s hit the headlines for millions yet but they prove you don’t need a metal detector to strike it rich. The buzz around rare coins is hotter than ever, with online forums and auction houses buzzing about fresh finds. Whether you’re a casual rummager or a full-on collector, grab a magnifying glass and start sorting that sofa fluff. Who knows, your next cuppa might come courtesy of a forgotten 20p. Just remember, condition is king keep ’em clean and untouched for the best price.