An unusual UK 10-pence coin, struck in the wrong metal, has sold for an impressive £380 at auction in Wiltshire. (June 18)
The coin, which dates to 1973, appears ordinary at first glance. It features the standard design for the era – a crowned lion on one side and a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the other. But instead of being silver in colour like most 10p coins, this one has a distinct bronze-brown hue.
Expert testing revealed that the coin is made from 97% copper, rather than the standard cupronickel. The Royal Mint, which makes all of the UK’s coins, confirmed the error back in 1974, explaining in a letter:
“This coin was produced at the Royal Mint but was struck, inadvertently, on a bronze coin-blank intended for another denomination.”
That original letter was sold alongside the coin at RWB Auctions in Royal Wootton Bassett, adding extra historical value to this already fascinating find.
Thanks to modern quality-control procedures, minting errors like this are extremely rare and almost never make it into circulation. It’s believed that only one other copper 10p from the 1970s has ever been sold at auction in the UK, making this coin highly sought-after by collectors.
The coin was originally spotted by its owner in the early 1970s and carefully preserved for over 50 years before they chose to sell it through RWB Auctions.
Christopher Collects, a coin expert and popular YouTuber who works with RWB Auctions, said: “We’re very pleased that the owner of this fascinating coin has achieved such a good price after holding onto it for so many years. It’s proof that checking your change with an eagle eye can still turn up rare and unusual coins.”
RWB Auctions has earned a reputation for selling rare and unusual British coins. Previous highlights include a trial 25p piece, which sold for £1,700 in September 2024, and a 2014 Lord Kitchener £2 coin with a missing denomination that fetched £1,000 in February 2024. For more information visit https://rwbauctions.com/
Article from Scott Media
