'Ordinary' £1 coin could have mistake making it worth £500
You will have to look closely to spot this tiny error, an expert said.
Brits have been urged to double check their £1 coins for a tiny error that could make them worth 500 times their face value. This coin will seem 'ordinary' at 'first glance', but could sell for up to £500 to collectors.
In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, an expert known as the Coin Collecting Wizard explained what to look for. He displayed an image of the modern 12-sided £1 coins now used in the UK.
'So we all know these are the pound coins we can find in our everyday change, but did you know there is a rare error version worth £500,' he said. The 12-sided £1 coins came into circulation in the UK in April 2017.
However a number of coins had also been minted in 2016 in preparation. And some of these were struck with a tiny error along its rim, making them highly sought after.
The expert continued: 'At first glance it looks like an ordinary pound coin, right? Well this is why you need to look even closer for that special pound coin.'
The error means that the main date of the coin, by the Queen's head will say '2016' while a tiny inscription on its outer rim will say '2017'. 'One of the most fascinating modern £1 coin errors to look out for, the 2016 coin with a micro engraving that actually says '2017',' he said.
'At first glance everything looks perfectly normal. The main date on the coin clearly reads '2016' like many others from the initial batch of the new 12-sided £1 coins.
'But if you look really closely, and we mean really closely, there's a hidden detail around the edge of the whole coin. You'll need a microscope or a very strong magnifying glass to see it but if the micro-engraving shows '2017' instead of '2016' then you've potentially got a rare minting error on your hands.'
He added: 'A few of these have popped up and collectors have paid around £500 for them. It's a great example of how even the smallest detail can turn an everyday coin into something quite special, so it's worth checking your change carefully.'
Experts at Change Checker backed up his advice. They said: 'Firstly, although both 2016 and 2017 obverse-dated £1 coins entered circulation in April 2017, the die-error mix-up appears to have only occurred on a limited number of coins with a 2016 date on the Queen's head side. So it's worth checking any 2016 coins.
'You'll need to look just inside the rim of the design side of the coin, where you will see some tiny writing. You'll almost certainly need a microscope to properly see the writing, which should reveal the date.'
According to them, an example of this coin was sold for £2,500 to a buyer in Spain in 2017. However, they estimated that the value of this coin, in excellent condition, is between £300 and £500.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Declining' UK town set for tourist boom as £22.5m revamp takes step forward
A 'rundown' UK town that locals say has 'gone downhill' has been granted planning permission for two major upgrades in what has been described as a 'huge milestone' A tiny 'rundown' town that has grappled with its reputation for years is slated for a major transformation to the tune of £22.5 million. Conveniently located between Leeds and Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, Dewsbury boasts a rich historical heritage - visible with its impressive Victorian-era architecture and parish church. While some may consider the region charming and under-appreciated - locals say Dewsbury has rapidly gone downhill. Branded a ' ghost town ' due to its failing high-street and struggling market, residents have even gone as far as warning Brits not to visit. "We have lost all of our independent shops - there are no small independents anymore," Richard Burns, who has been trading on the town's market for more than 60 years, told Yorkshire Live. "If you look at this side of town (by the market), it is basically all takeaways. There's nothing to draw people into Dewsbury. If you come on a day when the market isn't open, there's no one walking around the town. Talks of regenerating the town have been in the air since 2018, casting doubt on whether they'll ever come to fruition. However, last week (Tuesday, June 17) Kirklees Council announced planning permission had been granted for two key projects within the Dewsbury Blueprint - a 10-year plan that aims to bolster the attractiveness and accessibility of the town. This consists of creating a new town park, which will be the largest green space within the centre - and is set to feature a dedicated outdoor area for children to 'safely play and socialise'. "The approved plans include lots of open green spaces, seating and a substantial, partially enclosed play area, which will benefit from lots of interesting features for children of all ages to engage with and enjoy," Kirklees Council said. "The plans also allow for potential water features, which could provide both a relaxing element for those enjoying the park and an interactive feature for the play area. There will also be an opportunity to include more art, with involvement from the local community." Dewsbury Market will also get a huge upgrade, with new demountable stalls that will allow for both an outdoor market area and a 'flexible space to support events'. The indoor market will also be kitted out for a 'variety' of different markets and events, while maintaining the building's 'beautiful historic structure and character'. "Now accepted, the plans for Dewsbury Market will create a more varied, day-to-night offering in Dewsbury town centre," Kirklees Council added. "We aim to continue and improve the traditional market offering, whilst at the same time creating more areas for eating, drinking, socialising and events, giving people as many reasons as possible to visit Dewsbury." Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Regeneration, hailed the announcement - stating it is an 'incredibly exciting time' for the town. "Once we unveiled our updated plans for Dewsbury Market, the adjoining park was very much the missing piece," he added. "These are both aspects of the town we know local people greatly care about, and they have a huge part to play in Dewsbury's future. This approved planning application marries these two key elements within our Dewsbury Blueprint, and shows how different this part of town is going to look within the next few years – not even taking into account the amount of work we're doing elsewhere in the town centre." Keith Ramsay, Chair of the Dewsbury Neighbourhood Board, also welcomed the planning permission approval, describing it as a 'huge milestone' for both Debwsbury Market and the new town park. "These are plans that will truly see Dewsbury town centre brought back to life, supporting the soon-to-reopen arcade and other town centre businesses, and cementing all we're doing to future-proof Dewsbury's heritage as a traditional market town – whilst creating a town centre that can thrive for future generations," he said. Speaking to the Mirror, Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Regeneration confirmed the estimated costs for both the revamped market and town park is around £22.5 million. "That figure is made up of money from the government's Towns Fund, which is aimed at regenerating town centres up and down the country, and our own capital funding," he added. When asked when the works will commence, Cllr Turner stated: "We're currently working closely with traders to discuss next steps. We'll soon be moving forward with procuring a contractor to complete the work, after which we'll be able to provide a further, more detailed update which includes both costs and timelines."
Glasgow Times
11 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Millions of Brits risk losing over £500 from bank account
According to reports, millions of Brits are flushing away over £500 a year by leaving their cash rotting in low-interest 'zombie' bank accounts. New research reveals more than half of UK savers are hoarding their hard-earned cash in zero-interest current accounts. The research, by Opinium for Hargreaves Lansdown, found 56 per cent of savers are putting money in accounts that give them absolutely nothing back – a 20 per cent rise from last year. Oil prices begin to stabilise — Hargreaves Lansdown (@HLInvest) June 26, 2025 67 per cent of 18–34-year-olds admit to stashing savings in current accounts, rather than moving them to proper savings pots. 81 per cent of higher-rate taxpayers and 83 per cent of investors are also making the same mistake. £297bn is currently held in accounts earning no interest – up by about a fifth in a year. £3,365 is the average amount held in current accounts, rising to £10,180 for the highest earners. £114 is what the average saver loses in spending power after one year at 3.5% inflation, or £344 for higher earners. Researchers calculated that if you had the average of £3,365 savings in a current account, and inflation was running at 3.5%, after a year, your money would have the same buying power as £3,251 today – so it would have lost £114 of spending power. But if you moved the cash to a competitive easy-access account, you could earn a return that's higher than inflation. Recommended reading: Sarah Coles, personal finance boss at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'You don't have to transfer cash from another account in order to spend it, you just spend as normal – and find yourself eating away at your savings." Ms Coles said: 'With inflation around 3.5%, a household holding £3,365 in a zero-interest account would lose £114 in spending power in just one year.' Those sitting on £10,180 would lose £344 annually – and over five years, £3,365 could shrink by £532. She added: 'These sites let you track everything in one place – and snap up the best rates without drowning in paperwork."
South Wales Guardian
16 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Millions of Brits risk losing over £500 from bank account
According to reports, millions of Brits are flushing away over £500 a year by leaving their cash rotting in low-interest 'zombie' bank accounts. New research reveals more than half of UK savers are hoarding their hard-earned cash in zero-interest current accounts. The research, by Opinium for Hargreaves Lansdown, found 56 per cent of savers are putting money in accounts that give them absolutely nothing back – a 20 per cent rise from last year. Oil prices begin to stabilise 67 per cent of 18–34-year-olds admit to stashing savings in current accounts, rather than moving them to proper savings pots. 81 per cent of higher-rate taxpayers and 83 per cent of investors are also making the same mistake. £297bn is currently held in accounts earning no interest – up by about a fifth in a year. £3,365 is the average amount held in current accounts, rising to £10,180 for the highest earners. £114 is what the average saver loses in spending power after one year at 3.5% inflation, or £344 for higher earners. Researchers calculated that if you had the average of £3,365 savings in a current account, and inflation was running at 3.5%, after a year, your money would have the same buying power as £3,251 today – so it would have lost £114 of spending power. But if you moved the cash to a competitive easy-access account, you could earn a return that's higher than inflation. Recommended reading: Sarah Coles, personal finance boss at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'You don't have to transfer cash from another account in order to spend it, you just spend as normal – and find yourself eating away at your savings." Ms Coles said: 'With inflation around 3.5%, a household holding £3,365 in a zero-interest account would lose £114 in spending power in just one year.' Those sitting on £10,180 would lose £344 annually – and over five years, £3,365 could shrink by £532. She added: 'These sites let you track everything in one place – and snap up the best rates without drowning in paperwork."
