SPOTTING a specific animal on a 50p could help you complete a rare collection that could be worth up to £160.

The Royal Mint has launched a new steppe mammoth coin as part of its latest Tale of the Earth Collection, which features rare and extinct animals.

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In the past, the designs have included dinosaurs but the latest range is centred around the Ice Age, which took place over 11,000 years ago.

Experts at Change Checker said: “The Tales of the Earth series as a whole is dedicated to celebrating ancient life on our planet, offering collectors a glimpse into a world that existed thousands of years ago, and the Ice Age Giants 50ps take us all the way back to the Ice Age.”

The 50p coin was designed by paleo-artist Robert Nicholls in collaboration with the Natural History Museum.

The reverse of the coin features a design of the famous animal, which was wiped out centuries ago due to hunting and rising temperatures.

It is currently available to buy from the Royal Mint website, with prices starting at £12.

These coins are uncirculated, meaning they are for collectors and you would not receive one as change in a shop.

The UK manufacturer has plans to release two more coins for the collection, which feature a 50p woolly rhino and also a giant dear.

These are not available to buy yet but you can pre-order them on the Change Checker website.

In the past, similar collections like this have been highly sought after by collectors.

The Royal Mint 2021 dinosaur collection, featuring all three coins, was sold for £160 on eBay earlier this month.

But it is worth remembering that coins are only worth what buyers are willing to pay for them.

For example, an identical set was sold for £25 on October 21.

The single steppe mammoth coin sold for £9.99 on eBay this week.

As the new Ice Age collection has not yet been fully launched, so it’s not quite clear just how much it will be worth.

But it’s not just animal collections that spark interest from collectors.

Coins featuring characters from children’s books or television can also be a hit.

For example, the Royal Mint’s 2018 edition of The Snowman coin, which features the iconic image of him flying in the sky, sold for £10.50 this Ocotber.

The 2019 edition, depicting the lovable cartoon as he comes to life, sold for £10.99 this month also.

You may have seen recently The Royal Mint released a 50p coin featuring the Gruffalo to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its books.

The Sun recently rounded up a full list of quirky rare coins that could be worth £356, which you can check out here.

How to spot rare coins and banknotes

Rare coins and notes hiding down the back of your sofa could sell for hundreds of pounds.

If you are lucky enough to find a rare £10 note you might be able to sell it for multiple times its face value.

You can spot rare notes by keeping an eye out for the serial numbers.

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

Also if you have a serial number on your note that is quite quirky you could cash in thousands.

For example, one seller bagged £3,600 after spotting a specific serial number relating to the year Jane Austen was born on one of their notes.

You can check if your notes are worth anything on eBay, just tick “completed and sold items” and filter by the highest value.

It will give you an idea of what people are willing to pay for some notes.

But do bear in mind that yours is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.

This is also the case for coins, you can determine how rare your coin is by looking a the latest scarcity index.

The next step is to take a look at what has been recently sold on eBay.

Experts from Change Checker recommend looking at “sold listings” to be sure that the coin has sold for the specified amount rather than just been listed.

M&S shoppers are obsessed with a £15 box of chocolates which comes with a unique festive surprise.

The fancy supermarket has brought out a gift box with a magical miniature forest inside – and when you shake it, it snows.

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The 200g Magical Snowing Forest which has a charming snow-globe effect has sent M&S fans wild on social media.

One user took to the Christmas Money Saver Facebook group to share a photo of their find with the group.

“The world’s first snowing chocolate box” contains milk and blonde truffles in a secret drawer compartment.

The post was met with over 2,000 likes and 337 comments.

One said: “Omg I so want one of these”.

Another wrote: “Just bought it, it’s really beautiful and would be a fabulous gift to get.”

While a third added: “I got one for my husband and one for a friend, I love it, I know my granddaughter would love it too.”

You can buy the snow box in-store in M&S from the food hall.

To find your nearest M&S store, you can go to its website and use the store finder tool.

But make sure you’re quick as items like these tend to sell out fast.

Or if you’d rather have it delivered to your house, you can order it online through Ocado.

Bear in mind this will be a little pricier as delivery costs extra.

You should also have a shop around before you buy the box to see if there are any similar products for cheaper elsewhere.

The M&S Magical Forest was the only snow-globe chocolate box we would find, but the shop does also sell a Santa chocolate sleigh for just £5.

You can also buy a 140g box of festive chocolate shortbread stars for £2.10 in Tesco.

Or Cadbury‘s 110g snow-ball themed chocolate bar is available to buy in most supermarkets.

In Sainsbury’s, for example, it is £1.65 for a bar of snowball chocolate, or £4.50 for a 270g bag of snow balls.

Aldi is also selling a 125g box of Dairyfine mini chocolate snowmen for £3.29.

Supermarkets are always changing their prices, so it’s best to check how much your product is online before visiting the store.

Websites like Trolley are useful for comparing prices between major supermarkets and making sure you bag the best deal.

And when you’re in store, it always helps to keep an eye out for yellow stickers, as you never know what might unexpectedly be reduced.

What else is M&S selling this Christmas?

M&S festive food is always the centre of excitement at Christmas time, with shoppers splashing that little bit extra to mark the occasion.

The Sun tried all 450 new items in the M&S huge Christmas range, including a turkey feast lasagne and hot honey brie.

We rated the Xmas dinner dip the top of our list this year – it features bacon bits, turkey, cranberry and even stuffing and is delicious to eat with bread or crisps.

Booze lovers will also be pleased to see the original snow globe gin liqueur back on shelves this year after it was slashed from last year’s range.

In previous years M&S have had to install an alcohol buying limit because of the massive demand.

Shoppers can also buy 75cl bottles of cocktail drinks on sale at the moment for just £5.50, which come in flavours Christmas Cosmo, Christmas Colada and Christmas on the Beach.

The new white mulled wine is also £6 and offers another twist on a winter favourite, with pear, vanilla and mulled spice flavours.

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 bank is giving away £180 in free cash – just in time for the expensive Christmas period.

The generous reward is available to any new or existing customer who switches their main current account to the bank’s reward account.

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The offer from NatWest lasts for a limited time only – so those eyeing up the extra cash for Christmas should act fast.

To be eligible, customers must pay £1250 into their new Reward Account – through either single or multiple payments.

This must remain in the account for 24 hours.

Customers must also have the latest version of the NatWest mobile banking app.

If these conditions are met, £180 will be paid into the account within seven days.

And it’s not the only reward available for switching to the NatWest Reward Account.

Customers can also receive a further £60 in rewards a year by signing up – as well as money off at a range of retailers.

However, the account does charge a £2 monthly fee.

Other banks are also offering cash incentives for switching bank accounts in the runup to Christmas.

Lloyds is offering £200 to customers who switch to the Club Lloyds account before December 10.

Those who open a 1st Account with First Direct can enjoy a payment of £175.

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

And Co-op Bank has announced that customers could receive £75 for switching to the bank – plus three monthly installments of £75.

Aside from the Reward Account, NatWest also has some other tempting offers for customers.

These include a 6% interest rate with the Digital Regular Saver account, prepaid “Rooster” debit cards for kids, and 1% back in rewards on the Travel Reward Credit Card.

These rewards can be exchanged for Amazon vouchers as well as cash.

To change your bank account, you should go through the Current Account Switch Service (CASS).

This automatically moves all your direct debits to your new account.

How do I switch bank accounts?

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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

CHOCOHOLICS are going wild after a Cadbury’s treat they thought was “extinct” was spotted on the shelves at B&M.

It marks the return of an iconic chocolate bar – but this time in miniature form.

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A picture of the Cadbury Fuse Mini Treats was posted to a Newfoodsuk Facebook group.

So far, it has wracked up a whopping 539 reacts and over 70 shares.

Nearly 300 overexcited chocolate-lovers rushed to the comments, with one telling their friend: “If you see these buy all of them.”

Others pointed out that the Mini Fuse Treats hailed the return of a cult classic – the Fuse bar.

This is not currently on sale in supermarkets, but does occasionally appear on specialist websites such as Bombon.

One wrote: “I thought fuse chocolate was extinct, seems like it still exists.”

Another said: “If these are like the old FUSE bars I NEED these!”

A third disbelieving fan commented: “Used to have these in full size bars years ago. Delish.”

The Fuse bar is a combination of crunchy peanuts, gooey caramel and a creamy truffle centre, all coated in smooth milk chocolate.

The grab-bag version contains seven mini bars, according to the packaging.

It comes as B&M shoppers also went wild for a new twist on the Dream bar.

Meanwhile, chocolate lovers raved about a new type of M&Ms – the Candy Popcorn M&M Minis.

And Nestle added a new chocolate to its Quality Street “Favourites Golden Selection” pouch – the Toffee Penny.

How to save money on chocolate

We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don’t have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.

Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs…

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Go own brand – if you’re not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you’ll save by going for the supermarket’s own brand bars.

Shop around – if you’ve spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it’s cheaper elsewhere.

Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you’re getting the best deal.

Look out for yellow stickers – supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they’ve been reduced.

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They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.

Buy bigger bars – most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.

So if you’ve got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.

SOCIAL media users are going wild for a clever cleaning hack that removes rust – and it’s basically free.

You can make it yourself with two, everyday store-cupboard items – and it’s perfect for de-rusting garden furniture before you pack it away for the winter.

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The tip was posted on a Facebook group inspired by cleaning influencer Mrs Hinch, also known as Sophie Hinchliffe.

It involves simply combining tomato ketchup with scrunched-up tin foil.

The hack was shared after a user took to the group seeking advice on how to remove rust from her outdoor metal stools.

One commenter wrote: “Tomato sauce and scrunched-up tin foil. Used it on mine. Removed the rust and didn’t scratch the metal.”

Another advised: “Foil scrunched up and tomato ketchup. Mine are quite a few years old and were very rusty.”

The poster then returned to the group to share her feedback on the hack.

She said: “Today I tried ketchup and tin foil, and it worked.

“I have to admit I was sceptical, but you were all right, and I was wrong. And, as somebody asked, it didn’t scratch the chrome.”

Another shared that they had tried the hack on their bathroom tower rail and were delighted with the results.

She hailed it a “game changer”, adding: “Vinegar didn’t make any difference this is much better.”

The method works because the acetic acid in the tomato sauce reacts with the copper oxide in the rust.

Meanwhile, the scrunched-up foil helps create friction to gently rub away the rust.

Cleaning enthusiasts should first apply the tomato sauce to the area, leaving it to sit for 20 minutes.

Then, you should use the crumpled foil to scrub the surface in circular motions.

Once finished, wipe the patch clean with a soapy cloth and dry.

It comes as Mrs Hinch fans also shared a handy trick for getting rid of kids’ ink stains – using hairspray.

Hairspray, which costs as little as 85p from Bodycare, can be used to help remove stains by letting the formula sit on the affected area for a few minutes before washing the item with a detergent and warm water.

B&M shoppers are rushing to do their Christmas shopping with toys scanning between 10p and £1.

Two savvy savers recently spotted the cheap toys in their local branches and finished festive shopping for the children in their family.

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The shoppers posted their find on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group after snapping up various toys for pennies.

One of the members who posted about their finds shared pictures of the toys they purchased and said that their daughter’s Christmas shopping was “finished thanks to this”.

Another member gushed over the find, saying they “never get any of the bargains but today [they] did!”

They also added that items were apparently reduced due to having old barcodes on.

Plenty of fellow bargain hunters have liked and commented on the posts keen to find toys in their local branch.

One user said: “Wow! Well done on being in the right place!”

Another commented: “Brilliant well done on your bargains.”

And: “That is amazing!”

A B&M employee even confirmed the discounts in the comment section.

They said: “These are all old stock so it’s not going to be every store. I work for B&M.”

Any B&M shoppers looking to snap up the £1 and under toys won’t be able to find it online.

It’s not guaranteed you’ll find it in your local branch either, so it might be worth calling your local branch ahead to avoid a wasted trip.

In any case, you should always shop around before buying something like this as you might find the same, or similar, item for less at another retailer.

You can use online price comparison sites like Price Spy and Trolley to see if a product you have found is the cheapest against others.

You can also use the Google Shopping/Product tab to do a quick scan of the internet.

However, we had a quick look online to see if any other retailers are selling some of these toys for under £1 and there weren’t any.

If you’re looking to pick up a bargain on your next B&M shop, you should get the retailer’s scanner app.

It’s free to download on to your smartphone via the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Once downloaded, you can use the camera on your phone to scan barcodes in-store.

It then tells you if a product has been reduced in price, even before a member of staff has changed the label.

The app also offers you a description of the product you are scanning.

It’s quite common for shoppers to find under £1 bargains in their local B&M stores.

One customer recently found a stainless steel egg slotter for just 10p instead of £2.99.

Another shopper found pet toys slashed to 10p in their local branch this summer.

Remember, you can find your nearest B&M branch by using the retailer’s store locator tool on its website.

Other ways to save money at B&M

One ex-B&M manager said the best time to visit your local store is first thing on a Wednesday.

This is when staff slash items to as little as 10p to clear excess stock and make way for new lines.

Deals expert Tom Church urged shoppers to keep an eye out for red stickers products as well.

These are put on special buy products that have also been reduced in price.

It’s worth signing up to Facebook pages dedicated to hunting for bargains from B&M and other discounters too.

Some of the best ones to join are B&M Bargains, Extreme Money Saving Deals and More and Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group.