Rare Royal Mint 5p coin sells for 560 times value on eBay

The 2017 coin sold for £28 on eBay on Saturday, May 9.

It features a broadstrike error, a mistake that occurs when the coin escapes the collar during the minting process, causing the design to spill past the edge.

This results in a coin that is misshapen and slightly larger than a standard five pence piece.

Rare 5p coin sells for 560 times its value as design ‘escapes’ edge (Image: Kennedy News & Media)

In the eBay listing, the seller said: “A genuine certified error – broadstruck coins escape the retaining collar during striking, leaving them larger and unstruck to the edge.

“Highly sought after by error coin collectors.”

One buyer purchased the coin for £28, with an additional £2.70 for postage.

It will be sure to have Brits checking their change for the same error.

The five pence coin features the Royal Shield of Arms design by Matthew Dent, which was first introduced in 2008.

Coins up to the value of 50p carry the shield design.

When placed together in the correct order, the 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, and 1p coins form the complete image of the Royal Arms.

Five Incredibly Rare and Valuable British Coins

What makes a coin valuable?

The 50 pence piece has become the most valued and collected coin in the UK, with many collectable designs appearing on its heptagonal canvas.

Its 27.5mm diameter makes it the largest of any British coin, and allows space for decorative pictures. It has often been used to celebrate big events over the past 50 years of British history.

The rarest coins tend to be of the greatest value, with the mintage (number of coins with each design made) being the fundamental attraction for collectors.

Along with the design, other aspects of the coin which increase value are the condition of the coin and whether it has an error in its design.

The way in which it is sold can also determine the coin’s value – while some coin collectors will bid vast amounts of money on eBay or at auction, others opt for more robust valuations by selling via a coin dealer.

Royal Mint top 10 most valuable 50p coins

Here is a list of the top 10 most valuable coins, when they were made and how many were minted:

1. Atlantic Salmon (2023), 200,000
2. Kew Gardens (2009), 210,000
3. Olympic Wrestling (2011), 1,129,500
4. Olympic Football (2011), 1,161,500
5. Olympic Judo (2011), 1,161,500
6. Olympic Triathlon (2011), 1,163,500
7. Peter Rabbit (2018), 1,400,000
8. Flopsy Bunny (2018), 1,400,000
9. Olympic Tennis (2011), 1,454,000
10. Olympic Goalball (2011), 1,615,500