A distinctive 2017 one pound piece featuring Queen Elizabeth II’s likeness twice has fetched nearly 700 times its monetary value after appearing on the online marketplace. The coin changed hands for £699.30 on Tuesday 31st March, having been produced with a manufacturing flaw that resulted in the image being stamped onto the metal twice.
A double-strike defect happens when a coin receives an initial impression but fails to release from the die assembly, causing a second impression to be applied directly over the first. These misplaced strikes often appear at different angles, meaning the monarch’s portrait shows up twice on the front face. The reverse side, bearing the Nations of the Crown motif, also displays a duplicated image.
The auction listing described the item as a mint error with doubling visible on the royal portrait. Following competitive bidding involving 30 separate offers, a determined buyer secured the item for £699.30 plus £3.42 in delivery charges. The sale price represents approximately 700 times what the coin would be worth as everyday currency, prompting speculation that members of the public may start examining their pocket change more carefully.
The round one pound coin was originally introduced in April 1983 as a replacement for the one pound note. Its makers gave the coin a distinctive yellow colouring and increased thickness to help it stand out from the silver-coloured cupro-nickel pieces already in circulation. Over the years, several different versions of the coin were produced. The familiar circular design was superseded in 2017 by an entirely new 12-sided version.
The 50 pence piece has become Britain’s most sought-after and collected coin denomination. Its 27.5mm measurement makes it the largest of all British coins, providing ample space for intricate designs. The coin has frequently been used to commemorate significant occasions throughout the past half-century of British history.
The most valuable coins typically feature the lowest production numbers. Beyond the design itself, factors influencing worth include the physical condition of the piece and whether it contains any minting errors. Sales methods also affect prices, with some collectors prepared to spend substantial sums through online platforms or auction houses while others prefer obtaining valuations through established coin dealers.
Among the most valuable 50 pence pieces are those with lower mintages, including the Atlantic Salmon design from 2023 with 200,000 produced, the Kew Gardens coin from 2009 at 210,000 units, and various Olympic commemorative issues from 2011 ranging from around 1.1 million to 1.6 million copies. The Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny designs from 2018 each saw 1.4 million units minted.