Visitors are making a mint from special 50p

VISITORS to a tourist attraction are making a profit online after striking their own coins.

People have been taking advantage of The Royal Mint Experience’s “strike your own coin” offer to then sell the coins on to collectors.

Some of these coins are now being sold on eBay for more than £60.

The chance to produce your own coin costs an extra £5 on top of the £13 fee to visit the centre in Llantrisant.

There have been reports of some visitors skipping the tour and heading straight to the part where you strike your own coin.

Some have gone so far as offering to pay other people to go and are willing to cover the costs of their entry fee, travel and dinner.

Jordan Everson wrote on the Cardiff Freeads Facebook group: “I’m willing to pay for someone to have a free day out visiting the Royal Mint!!

“Unfortunately I’m hundreds of miles away and would love a Strike Your Own Newton so I’m willing to pay for someone’s ’s day out there here (travel l and din- ner included) just in return I ask for you to send me e the strike ke it yourself rself coin.”

The coin is a 2018 50p which celebrates the work of Sir Isaac Newton.

Luke Hearn, from the website Change Checker which helps people identify and swap coins, said the popularity of the coin is well known.

He said: “We are certainly aware of people making long journeys, some from many hours away, to visit The Royal Mint Experience to strike a 2018 Sir Isaac Newton 50p coin. It has become very well known in collecting circles and we’ve seen a number of these coins selling for many times the face fac value.” Mr Hearn add added: “The reason re for the th intere est is the e expected low mintage figure d due to the fa fact the coin is only o being struck at The Royal M Mint Experience for a relatively short period of time.” A Royal Mint spokeswoman said the coin was limited to one per person. She said: “This 2018 coin is legal tender, but it is a commemorative coin – that is, the finish and strike of the design is superior to that of the 50p coins that we would spend in exchange for goods and services.”