RARE coins can sell for thousands of times their face value – and it’s always worth seeing if you’ve got any lying about.

One coveted 2p coin garnered the interest of collectors across the world due to its unusual wording and sold for £700 at auction.

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Going under the hammer at RWB Auctions on September 25, the copper sold for a whopping 35,000 times its original market value.

It is easily identified by three words as an error from the UK’s Royal Mint means that the 2p coin reads “new pence” instead of “two pence”.

Collectors say this subtle error was likely produced when an old die was used to strike the coin, and very few of these coins exist.

The handful of these coins can be found in sets produced in collaboration between The Royal Mint and Italian drinks company Martini & Rossi.

They were made as part of a promotional giveaway labelled ‘The Great British 1983 Coin Collection’ on the cover.

But although thousands of the sets were released, only a small number feature the rare 2p coin.

“It is worth checking old coin collections for this set, particularly if you were born in 1983,” said Jon White, of RWB Auctions.

“Someone may have bought you one as a baby or as a Christening present. If they happened to get hold of a rare one, then you have a very valuable gift on your hands.”

The auction house has previously sold a scarce Lord Kitchener £2 for £1,000 and an unusual Olympics 50p for £1,500.

How to spot rare coins and banknotes

Rare coins and notes are highly desirable among specialist collectors and could make you a mint if you find one.

Some of the most in-demand pieces can sell for hundreds of pounds.

If you spot an unusual-looking coin in your change, keep hold of it.

Then look up exactly how rare it is. Usually, the rarer it is, the more valuable it is.

You can find out what coins are rare and how they look on The Royal Mint’s website.

You can also determine the coin and how common it is by looking at the scarcity index on specialist coin collector sites.

To work out how valuable it might be, take a look at similar coins that have recently sold on eBay or even at auction.

Remember to look at “sold listings” to be sure that the coin has sold for the specified amount rather than just been listed.

It’s not just coins, rare notes can sell for multiple times their face value.

This includes fivers, rare £10 notes as well as higher denominations.

One of the main distinguishing marks of a rare note is the serial number.

These numbers can be found on the side with the Monarch’s face, just under the value of £10 in the corner of the note.

Low serial numbers or something quite quirky can see you cash in thousands.

MARTIN Lewis has issued a warning to 900,000 credit card customers who have hours left to bag £150 free cash.

The consumer champion’s MoneySavingExpert is reminding HSBC Visa credit card users, that they can earn the cashback on groceries, fuel and transport over the next three months.

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But you’ve only got until 11.59pm on September 30 to check if you’re eligible and opt-in.

The team have described the offer as a “no brainer” if you were planning to make these purchases anyway.

Although, you do have to make sure you pay your card off in full so the interest doesn’t wipe out your cashback earnings.

The MSE team said: “You must be an existing HSBC Visa credit card holder to get this offer, which means those with an HSBC Mastercard credit card won’t qualify.

“You must also have been sent an email from HSBC giving you the option to opt in – if you have an HSBC Visa but didn’t get the email, it could be because you’ve unsubscribed from marketing offers.”

The offer is only available to people living in England, Scotland and Wales.

So you can’t get it if you live in Northern Ireland or outside of the UK.

HSBC told MSE that around 900,000 people can get the deal, and there’s no minimum period on how long you must have had your credit card to bag it.

The major bank currently has four Visa credit cards: its Balance Transfer Credit Card, Purchase Plus Credit Card, Classic Credit Card, and Student Credit Card.

Below we reveal how the deal works and how you can get the cash.

How the HSBC £150 cashback offer works

Firstly, you need to opt in before 11.59pm on Monday, September 30.

If you’re eligible, you should already have received an email with instructions on how to sign up.

You might also have received a notification through the HSBC app if you’re able to apply.

It’s important to note that if you fail to opt in you won’t get the cashback, even if you’re eligible for it.

Once opted in, you’ll be able to earn 10% cashback – up to a maximum of £50 a month – on most grocery, fuel and transport spending for three months, amounting to £150 in total.

The offer will last from October 1 to December 31.

MSE says if you’re eligible but miss September’s sign-up deadline to begin earning cashback from October, you should get another chance to sign up for the offer later on.

However, you only need to opt in once – you won’t need to reapply each month.

To get any cashback, you’ll need to make a certain number of grocery, fuel and transport purchases each month, according to the team.

This will be either three, five, 10 or 15, depending on how much you typically spend – HSBC says it will tell you your personal threshold before you opt in.

MSE said: “Any cashback earned will be calculated at the end of the month and credited to your credit card account on the 15th of the following month.

“Of course, be mindful that cashback is never an excuse to overspend. And remember to pay off your card in full each month – or before any 0% deal you’re on ends – to avoid paying any interest.”

The team has rounded up several exclusions to the offer to bear in mind:

• Groceries: Includes online food shopping, corner shops and bakeries, but excluding Amazon Fresh, department stores and takeaways
• Fuel: Includes fuel purchased at UK service stations, electric vehicle charging and fuel dealers selling oil, wood, coal, etc
• Transport: Includes most public transport in the UK but none abroad

But don’t worry you’ll be sent a full list of qualifying purchases and exclusions when you opt in to the offer.

Another thing to note is that you won’t get any cashback if you’re over your credit limit or in arrears when the cashback is calculated and you won’t get any cashback for refunded transactions.

Other bank freebies

Nationwide Building Society has launched a new offer of £175 to switch to its FlexDirect, FlexPlus or FlexAccount current accounts.

In order to get the free money, you must switch through the Current Account Switch Service (CASS).

Banks often offer incentives like free cash to attract new customers

The Co-operative Bank has announced eligible customers could receive up to £150.

The first £75 is given when a customer completes a switch to the bank.

Then, the bank is offering three monthly instalments of £25 – another £75 – to make up the £150.

Both new and existing customers can apply to switch to a current account to make themselves eligible for the payment.

FirstDirect is currently offering £175 to customers who choose to make the switch.

To be eligible for the bonus you cannot have had any account with First Direct in the past, and you can’t have opened a current account with HSBC since January 2018.

If this is you, then all you need to do is open the account in app, and switch in an account from a different bank including two direct debits or standing orders within 45 days.

You will also need to pay in £1,000 and make five or more debit card payments within 45 days.

The £175 is paid by the 20th of the following month after you meet the switch bonus criteria.

How do I switch bank accounts?

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SWITCHING bank accounts is a simple process and can usually be done through the Current Account Switch Service (CASS).

Dozens of high street banks and building societies are signed up – there’s a full list on CASS’ website.

Under the switching service, swapping banks should take seven working days.

You don’t have to remember to move direct debits across when moving, as this is done for you.

All you have to do is apply for the new account you want, and the new bank will tell your existing one you’re moving.

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There are a few things you can do before switching though, including choosing your switch date and transferring any old bank statements to your new account.

You should get in touch with your existing bank for any old statements.

When switching current accounts, consider what other perks might come with joining a specific bank or building society.

Some banks offer 0% overdrafts up to a certain limit, and others might offer better rates on savings accounts.

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And some banks offer free travel or mobile phone insurance with their current accounts – but these accounts might come with a monthly fee.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

AN ANGRY mum has blasted McDonald’s after an email was sent out by mistake telling her a limited edition milkshake flavour was returning.

Emily posted grabs from the correspondence on Facebook yesterday, jokingly adding “kids are crying now”.

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She was seemingly planning a birthday party for her child at the fast food restaurant and was excited to receive an email from character Grimace.

He informed her his popular blueberry and vanilla-flavoured Grimace Shake would be available despite being discontinued in the UK on September 3.

It said: “Yoo, Emily – it’s Grimaceeee!!

“I’m gatecraaashing the birthday celebrations to bring youuu my Grimace Shake – so tryy it this week!!!”

The email was signed off with: “Luv from Grimace.”

However, Emily then received a second more generic email from McDonald’s, saying: “Oops! We are sorry to confirm that the Grimace Shake is sadly not back.

“We apologise for any disappointment caused, and hope to bring it back to the menu at some point in the future.”

Have you suffered a similar company message mishap? Email ryan.merrifield@thesun.co.uk

Other McDonald’s lovers said in the comments to Emily’s post that they also received the “oops” email.

However, one person provided some hope, saying: “My daughter works for McDonald’s and it is coming, she showed me the promo stuff.”

The Sun was told by a McDonald’s source the Grimace email was, in fact, “sent by mistake and went widely”, with an inquiry launched to understand what happened.

It is unclear if the flavour is returning, however.

The Grimace Shake was first sold in the US from June 11 to July 2023 last year to celebrate the 52nd birthday of the milkshake-loving character from McDonaldland.

It gained popularity on TikTok and YouTube with the #GrimaceShake trend.

It came to the UK for a brief spell from August 28 to mark the restaurant’s 50 years here.

The company’s website describes Grimace as a “large, purple, rotund being of indeterminate species with short arms and legs”.

It adds: “He was known for his slow witted yet optimistic demeanour.”

He was originally an evil thief, who would steal milkshakes, before becoming benign.

Grimace is among the most well-known McDonaldland characters alongside Ronald McDonald and Hamburglar.

A McDonald’s source told The Sun: “The email was sent by mistake and went widely.

“We’re working with the team to figure out how this happened.”

We have contacted McDonald’s for comment.

All you need to know about McDonald’s

HERE’S all the crucial information about McDonald’s you’ve always wanted to know…

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ROYAL Mail is increasing the price of stamps again in just a few days.

The price of first-class stamps will rise by 30p to £1.65, the second rise in a year, the delivery giant has confirmed.

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Royal Mail said the price increase will come into force from October 7.

It comes after first class stamp prices increased by 10p to £1.35 in April and by 10p to 85p for second class.

The company has frozen the cost of second class stamps at 85p until 2029 in a bid to keep the sending of letters affordable.

Royal Mail says it has tried to keep price increases as low as possible in the face of declining letter volumes, and inflationary pressures.

When announcing the price rise earlier this month, it also cited the costs associated with maintaining the so-called Universal Service Obligation (USO) under which deliveries have to be made six days a week.

Postal regulator Ofcom declared in early September that Royal Mail could be allowed to axe Saturday deliveries for second class letters as part of an overhaul of the service.

Ofcom, which has been consulting on the future of the universal postal service since January, said it should keep first class deliveries to six days a week.

Under the plans being considered, second class deliveries would not be made on Saturdays and would only be on alternate weekdays, but delivery times would remain unchanged at up to three working days.

Ofcom said no formal decision had been made and it continues to review the changes, with aims to publish a consultation in early 2025 and make a decision in the summer of next year.

Royal Mail said letter volumes have fallen from 20billion in 2004/5 to around 6.7billion a year in 2023/4, so the average household now receives four letters a week, compared to 14 a decade ago.

The number of addresses Royal Mail must deliver to has risen by 4million in the same period meaning the cost of each delivery continues to rise.

Royal Mail said the universal service needs urgent reform, adding: “The minimum requirements of the universal service haven’t changed for over 20 years despite major changes to how people communicate.

“We have no certainty on regulatory reform and the rate of letter decline and ongoing losses means that Royal Mail has had to take the necessary steps within its power to address the very real and urgent financial sustainability challenge the universal service faces right now.

Nick Landon, Royal Mail’s chief commercial officer, said it always considers price increases “very carefully”.

However, he said, as letter volumes have declined by two-thirds since their peak, the cost of delivering each letter has inevitably increased.

He added: “A complex and extensive network is needed to get every letter and parcel across the country for a single price – travelling on trucks, planes, ferries and in some cases drones before it reaches its final destination on foot. We are proud to deliver the universal service, but the financial cost is significant.

“The universal service must adapt to reflect changing customer preferences and increasing costs so that we can protect the one-price-goes anywhere service, now and in the future.”

Other Royal Mail changes

Royal Mail has urged the Government and Ofcom to review its obligations, arguing that it is no longer workable or cost-effective, given the decline in addressed letter post.

In its submission to Ofcom in April, it proposed ditching Saturday deliveries for second class post and cutting the service to every other weekday.

Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom’s group director for networks and communications, said: “If we decide to propose changes to the universal service next year, we want to make sure we achieve the best outcome for consumers.

“So we’re now looking at whether we can get the universal service back on an even keel in a way that meets people’s needs.

“But this won’t be a free pass for Royal Mail – under any scenario, it must invest in its network, become more efficient and improve its service levels.”

Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services (IDS), which agreed to a £3.57billion takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky in May, said “change cannot come soon enough” to the UK’s postal service.

Royal Mail also ousted old-style stamps and replaced them with barcoded ones last July.

The business said the move would make letters more secure.

Anyone who still has these old-style stamps and uses them may have to pay a surcharge.

How prices have changed

Royal Mail previously raised the price of first class stamps from £1.10 to £1.25 last October, before boosting them again in April.

Right now, a first class stamp costs £1.35, which covers the delivery of letters up to 100g.

Historically, the cost of stamps has seen a steady increase over the years, reflecting inflation and operational costs. For example, in 2000, a First Class stamp was priced at 41p.

A second class stamp is priced at 85p and also covers letters up to 100g.

The stamps can be bought individually if you buy it at a Post Office counter.

Otherwise, you can typically buy them in sets of multiple stamps.

The first class service typically delivers the next working day, including Saturdays, while the second class service usually delivers within 2-3 working days, also including Saturdays.

For larger letters, the cost of a first class stamp is £2.20 for items up to 100g, and a second class stamp for the same weight is £1.55.

Parcel delivery prices vary based on size and weight, starting from £3.69 for small parcels.

Additional services include the “signed for” option, which requires a signature upon delivery and adds an extra level of security.

The cost for first class signed for is £3.05, and for second class Signed for, it is £2.55.

The “special delivery” service guarantees next-day delivery by 1pm with compensation cover, with prices starting from £7.95.

Royal Mail periodically reviews and adjusts stamp prices, so it is advisable to check the latest rates on their official website or at your local post office.

How to beat the hike

Money guru Martin Lewis advised Brits to buy stamps in bulk before the new prices kick in to save a decent chunk of change for all their posting needs.

He said: “For years, every time stamps go up in price I’ve suggested people stock up and bulk-buy in advance, as provided the stamp doesn’t have a price on it and instead just says the postage class, it’s still valid after the hike.

“So you may as well stock up now, even if it’s just for Christmas cards for the next few Christmases.”

Do bear in mind though, if you stock up on stamps now, be careful to avoid fakes, he said.

Buy from reputable high street outlets and, where possible, hang on to your receipt.

Stamps are also available directly from the Royal Mail online shop, but you have to spend £50 to get free delivery.

Back in April, Royal Mail paused the £5 penalty for anyone who receives a letter with a fake stamp on it while it takes fresh action against counterfeits.

However, you could still be charged if you use a fake stamp when sending something.

To check whether a stamp is genuine, you can use Royal Mail’s new “fake stamp scanner” on the app.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

A MAJOR TV streaming platform has begun charging users £60 extra a year to share their accounts.

Disney+ has followed in the footsteps of streaming giant Netflix and begun charging for password sharing.

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If you share your Disney+ account with friends or family who don’t live with you, you’ll now need to pay up to £4.99 a month.

Over a year that adds up to a whopping £60 extra – on top of the fee you already pay for an account.

The platform will be able to check where you’re accessing it from, automatically setting up a “household” for the account based on the devices you use and where your primary residence is.

If you log in while you’re away from home, you’ll need to verify your account using a one-time passcode sent to your email.

If you do want to share the account with someone else you’ll need to buy a separate “extra member” profile.

On top of your base price, it’ll cost £3.99 a month if you have a “standard with ads” plan and £4.99 a month if you’ve got a standard or premium plan.

It’s important to note that you won’t be charged automatically if you’re sharing your account right now.

You’ll need to buy the extra profile proactively, although it’s not yet clear if or how Disney+ will enforce the new policy.

For example, it may start locking you out if you’re not the account holder.

Sun Money has contacted Disney+ and will update this story when we hear back.

What we do know is that you can only buy one extra member add-on per account.

The extra member will only be able to stream on one device at a time, but will otherwise be able to watch the same content as the main account holder.

If you want to buy the add-on you’ll need to head to your account and set it up in the billing section.

It comes after Netflix banned viewers who don’t live under the same roof as the primary account holder from streaming content last year.

Under the new rules, Netflix charges users wanting to share an account £4.99 per month, which costs the same as having your own ad-based subscription.

How to save on your Disney+ subscription

If you’re looking for ways to combat the new charge, you can save on your subscription in other ways.

Lloyds Bank’s Club Lloyds account gives you 12 months’ Disney+ standard with ads streaming for free – it’s normally £4.99 a month, £59.88 for a year.

The account is fee-free as long as you meet the £2,000 a month minimum pay-in – there’s a £3 a month fee if you don’t.

Or, if you have a Tesco Clubcard with enough points, you can use your Clubcard vouchers to get 50% off a three-month Disney+ subscription.

Although, this only works with standard with ads and standard subscriptions.

When you swap your vouchers, you’ll get a code that’s valid until May 1, 2025, so if you’re an existing Disney+ subscriber you can wait till your current plan expires, and then use the code.

How to cancel your Disney+ subscription

If you’re unhappy with the changes to your subscription you can cancel anytime by following these simple steps.

It’s important to note though that if you cancel, you won’t be able to watch TV shows or any other content through the streaming platform.

You can cancel at any time and there is no fee to leave.

Start by logging into your Disney+ account online.

Then click the Manage Account button which can be found in the top corner of the screen.

From the plans and billing section, click on your subscription. Then, click cancel subscription and follow the last few steps to confirm.

Do bear in mind, that if you cancel halfway through your billing cycle, you’ll still be able to use the account until your next payment date.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

STRUGGLING households have only a few hours left to claim hundreds of pounds worth of white goods or a new boiler — here’s how to apply now.

The Household Support Fund (HSF) is a government scheme which aims to support those most in need.

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Around £1.8million is available to households in Gateshead until September 30.

Households struggling to afford energy bills, food and wider essentials will be eligible for the fund.

The council confirmed they will use the funds to help residents replace kitchen appliances, install carpets for warmth, repair or replace boilers, and pay off large utility bills.

However, only householders in Gateshead who need support will be eligible.

Gateshead Council will evaluate a household’s income and expenses to decide if they qualify for assistance from the funds.

Residents who have received funds from the scheme since May 1 will no longer be eligible to apply again.

The council announced that they will not be offering food vouchers as part of the scheme.

Households in need of food support should reach out to Citizens Advice Gateshead for additional help.

What is the Household Support Fund?

The Household Support Fund (HSF) was first set up in October 2021 and has now been extended six times.

Councils in England are now able to benefit from the latest round of funding which amounts to £421million.

Nationwide councils have received a portion of the cash to distribute to households in need.

But there is a postcode lottery to determine who qualifies and each local authority can set its own eligibility criteria.

Yet if you have a limited amount of money or savings in the bank, or are deemed to be vulnerable or on benefits, you will probably qualify for help.

The HSF’s fifth round of funding will close on September 30, but the government has extended the scheme until April 2025 with the injection of a further £421million.

Applications may still be being accepted for the fifth round of funding, so it’s still worth checking with your local authority.

Applications to access the next round of funding will open in October.

Councils will determine how the cash is distributed. For example, households in Leicestershire have been able to apply for a financial award of £300 per household, which was paid in the form of vouchers to support with gas, electricity and food.

The payment could be delivered as a Post Office voucher, which can be redeemed for cash to help with gas, electricity or water, or an e-voucher to help with food costs that can be converted to a gift card for major supermarkets.

Meanwhile, residents of Leeds could receive council tax support with those with dependent children able to claim up to £100, while those without children could receive £25.

You should get in touch with your local council to see if you might be eligible for help.

You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.

The help you can get varies, depending on who your local council is, as well as your personal situation.

You may be able to receive free cash or vouchers to cover the cost of heating your home, or the weekly food grocery shop.

If an applicant is already receiving benefits, these will not be affected by the HSF.

Additionally, you do not need to be getting benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the HSF.

Check with your local council to find out what support is available and the eligibility criteria.

How do you apply?

To get the help, you’ll need to look it up with your council because local authorities are the ones responsible for distributing the funding.

To find your local council, use the gov.uk council finder tool.

Once you’ve identified your local council, there should be information on how to apply for the funding online.

Every council has a separate application process, meaning specific details regarding how to apply depend on whereabouts you live.

The eligibility requirements to access the fund might vary in addition so it’s best to check with your local council for further details.

Some councils won’t need you to apply for help and will get in touch instead if you qualify.

If you can’t find any information on your council’s website, it’ s a good idea to call them and ask for further information.

History of the Household Support Fund

Here is everything you need to know…

The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.

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Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £500million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.

It was then extended in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a second time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.

The DWP then confirmed a third extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.

Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fourth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.

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The current fund is due to close on September 30 although there have been calls to extend it again.