The 20p coin that's worth a mint for charity
A rare, undated 20p could net two vital charities thousands of pounds after it was spotted among donations.
Fundraiser Julie Scarborough was about to take the 700 she raised from a charity event to the bank.
But she decided to rummage through the pennies after hearing about the valuable 20p coins minted in error by the Royal Mint.
The 74-year-old had a recount – and spotted one gleaming back at her.
With the rare 20p pieces changing hands with collectors for up to 7,500 the Widley resident has enlisted the help of The News to put it on internet auction site eBay in a bid to raise cash for The Rocky Appeal and Naomi House children's hospice.
Julie, who raised the money by holding a house sale on Saturday, said: 'We had a marvellous day and raised just over 700 for my two favourite charities.
'I had counted all the money up and was just about to leave to go and bank it all when I had a frantic telephone call from my very best helper Lorraine Adamson.
'Her ex-husband had told her to make sure I check all the 20ps because he'd just heard on the radio about the undated ones.
'I couldn't believe it when I checked because at first I thought I'd found two.
'I said to myself "this is ridiculous" but I quickly realised just one of them was the one I was looking for.
'It would be absolutely wonderful if someone came along and bought it for a nice sum. Maybe a local businessman will read this and buy it?'
Experts had predicted that the coins, minted without a date mark when they were redesigned, could be worth 50 each.
But they have been appearing on auction sites with reserves of up to 6,000. The News has put the coin on to eBay with a reserve of 50 – the amount the owner would get for handing it back to Royal Mint.
To bid on the item go to ebay.co.uk and enter item number 260439271873.
UP TO 200,000 MAY BE IN CIRCULATION
The Royal Mint does not know how many undated 20p coins were released into circulation, but estimates range between 50,000 and 200,000.
This is the first undated British coin to enter circulation in more than 300 years – the last occasion was 1672, when Charles II was on the throne.
Coins are redesigned every 40 years and the undated 20p pieces were created by accidentally pairing up the new tails side with the old heads – meaning no date appeared at all.
The 20p piece was first struck in 1982 and the Tudor Rose design was used continuously on the 20p until 2008.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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