Duncan can coin it in with rare 20p

A LUCKY Grimsby man is set to cash in on a national mistake – by coining in an undated 20p piece.

Duncan Young was stunned when he was given one of the dateless coins in change at a local supermarket.

Duncan Young says he will probably hold on to the rare 20p piece without a date that he was given in change from a supermarket – despite others around the country cashing the coins in for hundreds of pounds. Picture: RICK BYRNE

A technical error at the Royal Mint led to up to 200,000 coins entering circulation without a date for what is thought to be the first time in more than 300 years.

The new 20p pieces are now considered to be collectors' items, with some selling on internet auction sites for hundreds of pounds.

Freelance photographer Duncan Young, of Grimsby, found his coin in change from Sainsbury's Local in St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes, on Tuesday.

He said: "Obviously the shops are not checking the coins as I got mine in change.

"I didn't think anything of it, but later I looked more carefully and saw that one was a rare unmarked coin.

"There are a lot of collectors searching for these.

"But then there are others who are just taking advantage of the mistake by trying to get as much money as they can on the internet."

Last November, the Royal Mint, which produces all coins in this country, accidently produced the dateless coins when they were redesigned, mixing the new tail side with the old Queen's head side.

They are only now coming into circulation.

A private company, the London Mint Office, is attempting to buy the so-called "mule coins" for £50 each.

But some sellers on internet auction website eBay are attempting to auction the coins for thousands of pounds, although most of the coins are selling for a few hundred pounds.

One seller has offered their 20p for £1.5-million.

But Mr Young has ruled out making a fortune.

He said: "I suspect some of the coins up for sale are fake, but mine is totally genuine.

"Even though I could probably make a fair amount of money by selling it, I'll probably just hold onto it to be honest."

Do you have one?

Do you have an unmarked 20p and have you sold it for hundreds? Call the Grimsby Telegraph newsdesk on (01472) 372236.