Rare Royal Mint £1 coin with copper-colored outer ring, Digi Mart USA News (United Kingdom): A rare Royal Mint £1 coin has sold for 46 times its value because its outer edge is the wrong color, according to a publisher report.
The “highly unusual” £1 coin sold for £46.04 on eBay because it was minted with a rare error. Instead of the pale-gold color of a standard £1 coin, the outer ring is a striking copper hue, while the center remains the expected silver.
In the listing, the seller described the coin as a “fantastic addition” for coin collectors, saying the error had pushed its value up. The listing states that the 2025 coin has a uniform, vibrant copper tone across the entire outer ring on both sides, and that it is circulated but has been held by its edges and stored in a protective pocket to preserve the finish.
One collector bought the coin for £46.04 plus £2.72 postage on Friday, October 16. The report says this was 46 times the coin’s shop value and may prompt people to check their change for the same error.
The £1 coin was first issued in April 1983 to replace the £1 note. Its thicker round design and yellow color helped it stand out from the cupro-nickel silver coins already in circulation.
In 2017, the round coin was replaced with a new 12-sided design. The coin was updated again in August 2024, when the first King Charles III coin, which features two honey bees on the reverse, entered general circulation.
The report notes that the coin’s authenticity and value have not been independently verified.
