Rare undated 20p coin dubbed 'the holy grail of change collecting' after printing mishap in 2008

Only a limited amount of 20p pieces were struck without a year in November 2008 after the printing error

A rare undated 20p coin has sold on eBay for £50 - despite being legal tender for just 20p.

The coin, described as "the holy grail of change collecting" by The Britannia Coin Company of Royal Wootton Bassett, was struck in 2008 due to a printing mishap.

Only a limited number of 20p pieces were struck without a year in November 2008 after the error.

The Royal Mint had 136 million Twenty Pence printed that money and only about 250,000 coins were minted with this unique error.

The seller from Uttoxeter put the coin up for auction on eBay and it quickly attracted bids from across the country.

The coin eventually sold for £50 - that's 250x its face value.

The buyer had to pay an extra £5.60 for delivery leaving them to still come away with a bargain.

The coin has previously sold for £61 and £70.

The Britannia Coin Company of Royal Wootton Bassett, a coin-selling website, sells their 20p coins for £90.

The site says: "The issue occurred because an old obverse ('heads') design was used with the new royal shield of arms reverse, introduced in this year.

"The previous Tudor rose design had the date on either side of the crown. When this was replaced with the shield, the date was moved to the other side.

"It was moved on most 20ps but not these ones, which bear no date at all.

"These coins have been circulated, so they will show the signs of wear typical of change that has been in wallets and cash registers.

"The only difference is this unusual error."

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