A 'very rare' £2 coin has sold for 26 times its face value because of one subtle error.
The coin was sold for £52.34 on eBay last week.
The 2016 coin, which features Queen Elizabeth II on the front and the William Shakespeare's Tragedy Plays Skull design on the reverse, was minted with a rare error.
The design is one of three Shakespeare coins released into circulation by The Royal Mint in 2016 to mark 400 years since the playwright's death in 1616.
Produced in tribute to Shakespeare's tragic plays, the coin is inspired by Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Macbeth and Hamlet.
The rose and skull design is inspired by Yorick's skull from Hamlet, as is the edge inscription, which is a line from the play: 'What a piece of work is man?'.
However, the coin that sold on eBay was minted with a rare error, as it has been printed with the regular edge inscription 'For King & Country' - which appears on all regular £2 coins.
The listing description describes the coin as a 'unique collectible', with the error making its value skyrocket.
The listing reads: "The 2016 William Shakespeare £2 coin with edge writing error, also known as a mule, is a unique and collectible piece of British decimal coinage.
"Minted in the United Kingdom, this coin features the iconic playwright's image on the obverse and a specific design on the reverse.
"This coin holds value for collectors and enthusiasts of British coins.
"This coin is the error version and the inscription on the side reads 'for King & Country' whereas the correct issue should read for 'What piece of work is a man'.
"Very rare coin."
One keen bidder snapped up the coin for £52.34 plus £2.70 postage on Tuesday [January 27].
That means the coin was sold for over 26 times its shop value and will be sure to have Brits checking their change for the same error.
Three Shakespeare coins were released into circulation by The Royal Mint in 2016 to mark the death of the playwright, who is regarded by many as the greatest writer in the English language.
In total 4,615,000 Shakespeare's Tragedies £2 coins were minted, and they remain a sought-after find for change checkers and collectors.
The other two designs pay tribute to Shakespeare's Comedies and Histories.
John Bergdahl's Jester's cap and stick is featured on the obverse of the Comedies coin, while a crown and dagger design appears on the obverse of the Histories coin.
