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5 Coins In Your Change Pocket Which Could Be Worth A Fortune

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When you think of a rare, precious coin, you usually imagine some ancient gold disc glittering inside a treasure chest.

But actually, some very recent coins can be worth a significant amount of money - and they look very similar to ordinary currency.

Coin collector site Change Checker says that some - rare - coins can be worth over £1,000, and other limited editions can be worth up to £50.

Be careful, though - the blog warns that it’s worth doing your research, as unscrupulous collectors will often sell coins for far above their actual value on eBay.

Here’s some of the treasures which could be sitting in your piggy bank.

Silver 2p

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If you’ve ever seen (and not kept) a two-pence piece which is made of the metal you’d expect in a 10p, you may want to kick yourself.

This summer, a ‘silver’ 2p sold for £1,350, and previous silver two pence coins have sold for over £1,000.

Poppy Appeal collectors spotted one of the ultra-rare coins last year - and it was sent to the mint for analysis.

The Mint confirmed that it was a genuine rarity, made by mistake, ‘whereby a nickel-plated steel blank, which would normally be used in the production of 10p pieces appears to have been struck between 2p dies.’

London Olympics Aquatic coin

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To celebrate the 2012 London Olympics, the Royal Mint released a commemorative 50p piece - which are very common in change today.

There are 29 different designs on the coins - but it’s one of them, the aquatic design, which is worth looking out for.

The design was changed very early in the coin’s production - and only a few hundred of the first design (left), showing water streaming over a swimmer’s face, were ever made.

One of the coins sold for £820 in 2014, according to Change Checker.

Undated 20p

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Look on eBay, and you’ll find dozens of these rare, undated coins going for large sums - often over £100.

in 2008, the Royal Mint printed around 250,000 coins without a date - and while they’re legal tender (ie still in circulation), they are collector’s items.

Change Checker says that while the coins are regarded as the ‘Holy Grail’ for change spotters, you shouldn’t get too excited - while people often charge over £100, they’re not worth much more than £50.

Kew Gardens 50p

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It’s only five years old, but this commemorative coin is already worth £50 - and collectors are snapping them up.

There are thought to be 210,000 in circulation, produced in 2011 for the 250th anniversary of Kew Gardens.

Kew Gardens 50p coins commonly sell for £50 each on eBay - although there are always optimistic sellers listing them for far more.

WWF 50p

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This design, showing 50 animals - with the famous WWF panda logo at the centre - is a hit with collectors, and commonly sells for £100-plus.

Change Checker says, ‘One coin which has seemed to unite favourable public opinion is the WWF 50p issued in 2011.

‘The design by Matthew Dent features 50 individual icons which represent the various facets of the WWF with the famous Panda at the heart of it.’