A collector’s item 20p piece has fetched over 200 times its monetary value because it’s missing a crucial element – and it could be sitting in your wallet right now.

The 2008 dated coin went for £42.30 on the online marketplace this month.

The copper-coloured piece bears Queen Elizabeth II’s likeness on one side and the Royal Shield of Arms on the other, but was struck with an unusual mistake.

According to The Royal Mint, a manufacturing mishap that year caused numerous dateless or hybrid 20p pieces to slip into general circulation.

The blunder occurred when the outdated and updated coin designs were accidentally matched together.

The precise quantity of affected hybrid pieces remains unclear, though the Royal Mint estimates fewer than 250,000 were produced among the 136million struck during 2008-09 – meaning while uncommon, more may still be discoverable.

A representative from The Royal Mint explained that in November 2008 several 20p coins were mistakenly manufactured, leaving them without a date.

The issue involved fewer than 250,000 of the 136million 20p coins produced during 2008-09 and resulted from the former obverse design being paired with the fresh reverse, meaning the production year failed to appear anywhere on the coin.

These pieces continue to be acceptable currency with their original 20p value.

The auction listing promoted the 20p coin as exceptionally unusual, with the flaw causing its worth to climb substantially.

One eager buyer stumped up £42.30 plus £2.70 for delivery to secure the coin on Wednesday March 11.

This means the coin changed hands for over 211 times its spending power, and will undoubtedly prompt Britons to rifle through their pockets searching for the identical mistake.

Originally launched in 1982, the 20p ranks among Britain’s most recent everyday coins.

Since its introduction, the coin has undergone various design changes.

In 1998, it was refreshed to carry Maklouf’s likeness of Queen Elizabeth II, while the reverse showcases a crowned Tudor double rose created by William Gardner.

By 2022, Ian Rank-Broadley’s representation of the Queen was substituted with Jody Clark’s interpretation.

Gardner’s reverse design remained until 2008 when it was superseded by the definitive shield motif now found on British coins valued up to 50p.

When assembled together in proper sequence, the 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and 1p collectively form the complete Royal Arms.