£1 coin sells for more than £300 due to distinctive ‘fried egg’ error

A rare £1 coin has sold for £305.20, more than 300 times its face value, due to a distinctive minting error.

The 2018 coin, featuring Queen Elizabeth II and the Nations of the Crown design, exhibits what collectors call the 'fried egg error'.

The unusual defect, which affects bi-metallic coins like the £1 and £2, occurs when the silver-coloured inner disk appears to 'leak' outwards from the centre, much like the yolk of a runny egg.

Described as a "unique collectible" in its listing, the imperfection significantly boosted its value, leading to its sale on Friday 20 February.

The listing reads: "Here we have a rare 2018 £1 coin from the United Kingdom with an offset centre design, also known as a 'fried egg' error coin.

"This coin is in circulated condition.

"The error design adds a unique and collectible element to this coin, making it a sought-after item for numismatists and enthusiasts alike."

One keen bidder snapped up the coin for £305.20, meaning that the coin was sold for 305 times its shop value.

The £1 coin was first issued in April 1983 to replace the £1 note.

To make it easy to identify, the round £1 coin was thicker than other coins, while its 'yellow' colour allowed it to stand out from the cupro-nickel 'silver' coins already in circulation.

Since then, there have been several different variations of the coin.

In 2017, the familiar £1 round coin was replaced with an all new, 12-sided £1 coin.

In August 2025, the first £1 coins featuring an official portrait of King Charles III entered circulation. There were 7.5 million coins distributed in the first drop, with a bee design on the reverse.

The same release also included 23.29 million of the final £1 coins featuring Queen Elizabeth.