Unreleased Paddington 50p on eBay for £16k
IT’S a blunder that deserves the Royal Mint a hard stare.
For the UK’s coin producer has ‘accidentally released’ a special edition Paddington Bear coin.
The limited edition 50p, which has yet to be officially released, was found by a 19-year-old student in her change in a corner shop in Caerphilly, South Wales, around ten miles from the Royal Mint.
It was subsequently listed on eBay, where it had last night attracted 116 bids – including one for £16,100. The listing, from lucky finder Jordan Mcilquham, claimed that the coin was an ‘accidental release’.
The coin features a scene from the opening chapter of Michael Bond’s A Bear Called Paddington of the famous bear sat on his suitcase in Paddington Station. In the background is an InterCity 125 train.
The coin, and another featuring Paddington outside Buckingham Palace, was commissioned by the Queen earlier this year to mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of the beloved character. The official release date is currently unknown.
In what has been seen as an admission of the coin’s genuine status, Miss Mcilquham claimed that the Royal Mint had asked her to ‘ take down everything off Facebook and the listing on eBay’ and return the coin.
But having sought legal advice – and turned down an offer of a free visit to The Royal Mint – Miss Mcilquham said she decided to keep the coin up for sale. She claimed the Royal Mint had also initially offered to match a buyer’s offer of £1,000 – but soon backed out.
It is thought a photographer may have accidentally pocketed the coin and spent it in the corner shop, which then handed it to the college student last Thursday.
Last night the Royal Mint said: ‘It has been reported to us that a commemorative 50p coin featuring Paddington Bear has been spotted.
‘We have undertaken our usual review when we are informed by the general public of such matters. However we can confirm that at no point was any commitment given to purchase the coin. The launch of the new Paddington Coins will proceed as originally planned.’
It is as yet unknown how much the coin will cost, however commemorative Beatrix Potter coins could be bought from the Mint for £60.