A rare Royal Mint error has let hundreds of 20 pence coins be released into circulation without dates on them.

The 20p has recently been redesigned thanks to the unwritten rule that coin designs should change at least every 40 years to keep the coinage fresh. The new design sees the year date being moved from the tails side of the coin to the side with the Queen’s head.

However somewhere quality control slipped up and a ‘mule’ design was let into circulation. Accidentally, thousands of 20p coins were minted using the old version of the ‘heads’ side, leaving coins without dates printed on them.

The Royal Mint are unsure as to how many undated 20p coins they released, although they believe the figure is between 50,000 and 200,000.

Private companies are offering £50 for each 20p coin however some believe that the value of the coin will go up and are hanging on to their unusual pocket change.

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