Latest news with #AliceGrahns
Scottish Sun
06-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Rare 50p coin sells for more than 2,000 times its value at auction – detail to check in your change
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITS are being urged to check their loose change after a rare coin has sold for 2,000 times its value at auction. The Brexit-themed 50p issued in 2020 was hailed as a "sought-after" collectible before it was snapped up on eBay. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A 50p that commemorates Brexit has been sold for 2,000 times its initial value Credit: Ebay Uk The coin carries a message of world peace and the official European Union withdrawal date of 31 January, 2020 stamped across it. It is the only official coin to commemorate the historic and controversial moment. According to the coin is common, and 10,001,000 were issued by The Royal Mint at the time. However, the 50p sold for an eye-watering £1,226.72 after it went up for auction. The simple design features the words: "Peace, prosperity, and friendship with all nations." Another seller is also flogging the same coin for £2,999 and 22 people are watching the listing at the time of writing. This comes after another Brexit 50p was revealed to be worth as much as £40,000 at auction thanks to a tiny detail. It carries the same design, except this one has the original date that Brexit was supposed to take place - October 31, 2019. When it was delayed, the coins with 2019 on the front were supposed to be melted down but some made it into circulation. TikToker Coin Collecting Wizard explained to his followers: "This is the Brexit 50p, released as a 50p, to mark the UK leaving the EU. Rare 2p coin sells for £750 "But did you know the Royal Mint accidentally printed a batch. "Some coins were originally struck in 2019 for the first Brexit deadline but when Brexit was delayed, those coins were supposed to be scrapped. "A few slipped through with the original 2019 date and because they were never officially released, they're insanely rare. We're talking only a few known to exist." Only two of the coins have so far come to light - so if you have one, you could be sitting on a goldmine. How to spot valuable items COMMENTS by Consumer Editor, Alice Grahns: It's easy to check if items in your attic are valuable. As a first step, go on eBay to check what other similar pieces, if not the same, have sold for recently. Simply search for your item, filter by 'sold listings' and toggle by the highest value. This will give you an idea of how much others are willing to pay for it. The method can be used for everything ranging from rare coins and notes to stamps, old toys, books and vinyl records - just to mention a few examples. For coins, online tools from change experts like Coin Hunter are also helpful to see how much it could be worth. Plus, you can refer to Change Checker's latest scarcity index update to see which coins are topping the charts. For especially valuable items, you may want to enlist the help of experts or auction houses. Do your research first though and be aware of any fees for evaluating your stuff. As a rule of thumb, rarity and condition are key factors in determining the value of any item. You're never guaranteed to make a mint, however. One lucky seller managed to flog theirs for a whopping £40,000. The TikToker joked: "Don't spend it. You might be holding a coin worth more than a car." A third version of the coin was also minted to mark the first proposed Brexit date of March 29, 2019. The March coins were also recycled after the updated deadline - with any surviving coins potentially worth in the tens of thousands. Most rare and valuable 50p coins WE reveal the Royal Mint's most rare and valuable 50p coins in circulation. Triathlon Minted in 2011, the Triathlon 50p depicts the same sport which featured in the 2012 Olympics. There are more than 1,160,000 of the coins in circulation. With over 200million 50ps circulating in the UK, that makes this coin quite a rare find. The highest recent sale we've found on eBay recently was £30 on June 21. Judo Judo is a popular sport that involves grappling with your opponent. But despite the design, it's not so easy to get a hold of this coin, of which there are just 1,161,500 in circulation. The piece was designed by David Cornell after he won a national competition. It was minted in 2011 and the highest bid we've seen on eBay was for £17.95 on June 21. Wrestling Wrestling was one of the first Olympic sports so it's not surprising that it features on one of the 50p pieces. The 2011 coin was designed by Roderick Enriquez, a graphic designer from Hammersmith, London. We've seen it sell for as much as £15 online so is worth digging around for. In recent months, one was sold on eBay for £11.95 on June 18. Football Of all the coins created to commemorate the 2012 Olympic Games, the 50p Football is among the rarest. It features an explanation of the controversial offside rule on it, with 1,125,000 produced. One sold for £20 on eBay on June 11, although it has been known to go for as much as £75 in the past. Kew Gardens The Kew Gardens 50p is the rarest of all the 50p pieces, with only 210,000 in circulation. They have been known to sell for as much as £895 on eBay before. The design was created by Christopher Le Brun RA and features the famous Chinese Pagoda with a leafy chamber that twists around the tower. The coin often sparks the interest of new coin collectors due to its rarity. The highest sale we found in recent weeks was £142 on June 22 with 23 bids. And this isn't the only 50p that can bring in a small fortune. If you think that you might have a rare coin then it's worth checking with an expert to see if yours could sell for a hefty price tag. The most valuable coins are usually those with a low mintage or an error. These are often deemed the most valuable by collectors. You can check how much the coin is selling for on eBay by searching the full name of the coin, selecting the "sold" listing and then toggling the search to "highest value". It will give you an idea of the amount of money that the coin is going for.
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Seven easy ways to save £3,517 in time for the summer holidays
WITH three months to go until the summer holidays, there's still time to save up some serious cash to help pay for your plans. For families, the long school break can be a huge financial stretch, with the soaring price of childcare, entertainment, food and travel. 1 While for singles and couples, trips abroad, staycations and festivals all add up, too. But follow our seven easy tricks and you could save a pot of £2,712 by the start of August to help fund all your fun in the sunshine this summer. Swap dinner and drinks for park picnics – £420 A meal out with a bottle of wine for two can easily run to £50 or more. Next time you're planning a catch up with pals at the pub or heading out for a date night, take it outside instead now the weather's getting better. You can grab a prosecco from Aldi for £4.99 and pick up some tapas and snacks to share for about £10, saving you about £35 compared to eating out. Head to the park or your back garden if you have one. If you normally go out for a meal, drinks or order a takeaway once a week and do this instead you could save £420 over the next three months. Become a pet sitter – £300 If you're an animal lover, sign up to websites like Rover and Pawshake to get paid for looking after pets. You set your own prices so it helps to be competitive – what you can charge will depend on where you live and what other sitters are asking. Building up some positive reviews is key. Easy Income Boosters Money Making Tips You Need to Know It's free to set up a profile but the sites take a cut of 15-19% from each of your bookings so factor this in when setting your rates. You could make around £10 to pop in and feed a cat or £15 to take a dog for a walk after covering the sites' fees. So if you land one dog walk and one cat feed per week for the next three months, you could make £300 in time for the summer holidays. You can earn up to £1,000 per year from a side hustle like this without having to declare it to the taxman or pay any tax. Sell old tech – £400 Have you got a drawer of old phones and tech that's gathering dust? Now is the time to see what it's worth. It's never been easier to trade in unwanted tech. Comparison sites like MoneySuperMarket will show you all the best offers from different companies that buy old gadgets. While newer models in mint condition fetch the highest prices, you can still make a few quid from older and damaged handsets For example an iPhone 14 128GB in excellent condition could be worth up to £332, when we checked. An older iPhone 11 – one of the most frequently-traded phones on the site – was worth up to £157. So if you flog a few unused gadgets from different family members you could net £400 or more. How to spot valuable items COMMENTS by Consumer Editor, Alice Grahns: It's easy to check if items in your attic are valuable. As a first step, go on eBay to check what other similar pieces, if not the same, have sold for recently. Simply search for your item, filter by 'sold listings' and toggle by the highest value. This will give you an idea of how much others are willing to pay for it. The method can be used for everything ranging from rare coins and notes to stamps, old toys, books and vinyl records - just to mention a few examples. For coins, online tools from change experts like Coin Hunter are also helpful to see how much it could be worth. Plus, you can refer to Change Checker's latest scarcity index update to see which coins are topping the charts. For especially valuable items, you may want to enlist the help of experts or auction houses. Do your research first though and be aware of any fees for evaluating your stuff. As a rule of thumb, rarity and condition are key factors in determining the value of any item. You're never guaranteed to make a mint, however. Crunch your midweek lunches – £165 A basic Sainsbury's meal deal would cost you £3.75 or if you tend to go to a cafe then a sandwich and drink could easily set you back £7 or more. By making your own sandwiches or pasta salads and sticking to tap water or squash, you can bring the daily cost of lunch down to £1. That's a saving of £2.75 per day or £13.75 a week compared to supermarket grab-and-go lunches. Do that five days a week for the next three months and you'll save £165 Streamline your streaming – £54 If you're signed up to several different TV services try streamlining your subscriptions by pausing any that you can. Some like Disney+ and Hulu will let you press pause for a few months while still keeping track of the episodes you've already watched. With Netflix, you can't pause its basic £5.99 plan, so you'll have to cancel and then restart, but your viewing history is saved for 10 months. With others you might have to cancel altogether and resubscribe when you want to. Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: 'Begin by looking at how much you're using each platform and cancelling the ones you use the least. 'If you don't want to miss out on the latest TV shows and films, you could try rotating streaming services.' That means you just binge all the shows you want to watch on one site before moving on to the next rather than paying for a few services at once. If you pause or cancel three £6-per-month subscriptions for three months that's a £54 saving. Blast your bills – £1,198 Set aside a few hours on an overcast day to blast through all your bills and switch any contracts that are lingering on a poor deal. It might not seem like the most enjoyable task, but when you see the savings add up you're bound to feel a huge mood boost. Use comparison sites to track down the best offers. 4 ways to keep your energy bills low Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips. 1. Turn your heating down by one degree You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70. 2. Switch appliances and lights off It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills 3. Install a smart meter Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used. 4. Consider switching energy supplier No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there. Gammell said: 'Shopping around for a better deal could save you hundreds of pounds on household bills like energy, mobile, broadband and car insurance. 'Households can currently save up to £162 by switching to a fixed rate energy deal on MoneySuperMarket. 'When it comes to broadband, switching to a bundle package could save you up to 36% on your bills, and is especially cost-effective if you already pay for TV or streaming services like Netflix, Sky Sports or other Sky channels, as you may get them included in your offer. 'Customers who switch their broadband can save up to £200 on their annual bill. 'Car insurance is a big expense, but drivers can save on average £485 by switching.' Meanwhile, according to another comparison site, Uswitch, you could save up to £351 a year by switching your mobile deal to a sim-only contract if you don't need a new handset. All in all that's up to £1,198 you could save from a few hours' work. Grab a bank bonus – £175 One of the simplest ways to get a cash boost is to switch your bank account. Different offers come and go all the time and sometimes you can make up to £200. Currently the highest bonus is from First Direct, which always scores highly for customer service and is offering £175 to join. To get the deal you'd need to open an account online HERE [ How do I switch bank accounts? SWITCHING bank accounts is a simple process and can usually be done through the Current Account Switch Service (CASS). Dozens of high street banks and building societies are signed up - there's a full list on CASS' website. Under the switching service, swapping banks should take seven working days. You don't have to remember to move direct debits across when moving, as this is done for you. All you have to do is apply for the new account you want, and the new bank will tell your existing one you're moving. There are a few things you can do before switching though, including choosing your switch date and transferring any old bank statements to your new account. You should get in touch with your existing bank for any old statements. When switching current accounts, consider what other perks might come with joining a specific bank or building society. Some banks offer 0% overdrafts up to a certain limit, and others might offer better rates on savings accounts. And some banks offer free travel or mobile phone insurance with their current accounts - but these accounts might come with a monthly fee. You would also have to switch from your current bank, including moving at least two direct debits or standing orders within 45 days. But all you need to do is fill out your current bank's details when you apply for the new one and the payments will be moved across for you by the current account switching service. You'll also need to pay in at least £1,000 and make five or more debit card payments to qualify for the bonus. The £175 is paid by the 20th of the following month after you meet the bonus criteria. NatWest is offering a £150 switching bonus, plus you can earn up to £36 a year in cashback on its Reward account. You'll need to pay in at least £1,250 and meet other criteria to qualify. .
Scottish Sun
03-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
eBay makes big AI change to its app leaving buyers and sellers baffled
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EBAY has made a huge change to the way customers list items using its app which will affect buyers and sellers. The secondhand platform has introduced a feature that uses AI to create a listing description for you. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 eBay has made a change to its product descriptions for customers Credit: eBay To use it simply click 'use AI description'. It will generate text describing your item, which you can then make edits to or use as inspiration to write your own listing. Ebay said the feature will make it quick and easy to list items, which will help you save time and sell items faster. But sellers in the eBay community have complained that they are struggling to opt out of the feature and control what buyers may be shown when looking at their items. Others have said that they can only see the AI summaries on some items but not others. The change has prompted fears that items could be listed incorrectly, which could lead to an increase in demands for returns or refunds. One buyer said: 'I would like to know if anyone knows if there's an opt out because it can make some listings challenging if working on phone!' Another said: 'On the app, some of my listings now have the description highlights summarized with with a paragraph they created, then the link to See Full Descriptions. 'Not all of my listings have this (maybe just the newer ones??) Is there a way for me to turn this off or opt out?' Users also raised concerns about AI descriptions when they were first phased in last year. One said: 'Sellers - stop using 'AI' nonsense for descriptions, you are losing sales…. 'It might seem an easy option but I won't buy from sellers who use the lazy option for descriptions, it's sometimes completely wrong or just nonsense and does not tell me want I want to know to make a buying decision so I don't. 'I want real descriptions of the item not made up ones by a machine!' Ebay was approached for comment. How to spot valuable items COMMENTS by Consumer Editor, Alice Grahns: It's easy to check if items in your attic are valuable. As a first step, go on eBay to check what other similar pieces, if not the same, have sold for recently. Simply search for your item, filter by 'sold listings' and toggle by the highest value. This will give you an idea of how much others are willing to pay for it. The method can be used for everything ranging from rare coins and notes to stamps, old toys, books and vinyl records - just to mention a few examples. For coins, online tools from change experts like Coin Hunter are also helpful to see how much it could be worth. Plus, you can refer to Change Checker's latest scarcity index update to see which coins are topping the charts. For especially valuable items, you may want to enlist the help of experts or auction houses. Do your research first though and be aware of any fees for evaluating your stuff. As a rule of thumb, rarity and condition are key factors in determining the value of any item. You're never guaranteed to make a mint, however. What other changes has eBay introduced? The sell with AI feature is the latest update in a series of changes eBay has introduced. Last month the secondhand platform updated its delivery options for all its buyers and sellers. From April 15 private sellers on eBay can only list items on the platform using the Simple Delivery shipping method. The change meant that sellers can no longer arrange their own shipping and must pay for the item to be delivered via eBay. The update made it harder for sellers to choose the courier they want to use to deliver items to their buyer. The service was also applied to eligible listings from April 7. But last week eBay made a major change to the policy, just days after it was introduced. The secondhand website quietly updated its terms to allow items under £10 in some sub categories to retain the custom postage option. Previously there were few exemptions, including for Authenticity Guarantee, bulky objects and items that are £10 or under that weigh 100g or less. The secondhand website has since expanded its exemptions. A page on its website reads: 'Simple Delivery will be optional for items priced £10 and under, letter-sized, and in certain sub-categories within the following areas.' The list includes more than 30 categories including antiques, books, cameras, coins, furniture and stamps. Simple Delivery also changed when sellers receive their profit after they have posted an item. For tracked deliveries, funds are released two days after the carrier confirms delivery. If there is no successful delivery scan then the funds are available eight days after the order date as long as the item was shipped within three days. If not, it defaults to 14 days. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Sun
03-05-2025
- The Sun
eBay makes big AI change to its app leaving buyers and sellers baffled
EBAY has made a huge change to the way customers list items using its app which will affect buyers and sellers. The secondhand platform has introduced a feature that uses AI to create a listing description for you. 1 To use it simply click 'use AI description'. It will generate text describing your item, which you can then make edits to or use as inspiration to write your own listing. Ebay said the feature will make it quick and easy to list items, which will help you save time and sell items faster. But sellers in the eBay community have complained that they are struggling to opt out of the feature and control what buyers may be shown when looking at their items. Others have said that they can only see the AI summaries on some items but not others. The change has prompted fears that items could be listed incorrectly, which could lead to an increase in demands for returns or refunds. One buyer said: 'I would like to know if anyone knows if there's an opt out because it can make some listings challenging if working on phone!' Another said: 'On the app, some of my listings now have the description highlights summarized with with a paragraph they created, then the link to See Full Descriptions. 'Not all of my listings have this (maybe just the newer ones??) Is there a way for me to turn this off or opt out?' Users also raised concerns about AI descriptions when they were first phased in last year. One said: 'Sellers - stop using 'AI' nonsense for descriptions, you are losing sales…. 'It might seem an easy option but I won't buy from sellers who use the lazy option for descriptions, it's sometimes completely wrong or just nonsense and does not tell me want I want to know to make a buying decision so I don't. 'I want real descriptions of the item not made up ones by a machine!' Ebay was approached for comment. How to spot valuable items COMMENTS by Consumer Editor, Alice Grahns: It's easy to check if items in your attic are valuable. As a first step, go on eBay to check what other similar pieces, if not the same, have sold for recently. Simply search for your item, filter by 'sold listings' and toggle by the highest value. This will give you an idea of how much others are willing to pay for it. The method can be used for everything ranging from rare coins and notes to stamps, old toys, books and vinyl records - just to mention a few examples. For coins, online tools from change experts like Coin Hunter are also helpful to see how much it could be worth. Plus, you can refer to Change Checker's latest scarcity index update to see which coins are topping the charts. For especially valuable items, you may want to enlist the help of experts or auction houses. Do your research first though and be aware of any fees for evaluating your stuff. As a rule of thumb, rarity and condition are key factors in determining the value of any item. You're never guaranteed to make a mint, however. What other changes has eBay introduced? The sell with AI feature is the latest update in a series of changes eBay has introduced. Last month the secondhand platform updated its delivery options for all its buyers and sellers. From April 15 private sellers on eBay can only list items on the platform using the Simple Delivery shipping method. The change meant that sellers can no longer arrange their own shipping and must pay for the item to be delivered via eBay. The update made it harder for sellers to choose the courier they want to use to deliver items to their buyer. The service was also applied to eligible listings from April 7. But last week eBay made a major change to the policy, just days after it was introduced. The secondhand website quietly updated its terms to allow items under £10 in some sub categories to retain the custom postage option. Previously there were few exemptions, including for Authenticity Guarantee, bulky objects and items that are £10 or under that weigh 100g or less. The secondhand website has since expanded its exemptions. A page on its website reads: 'Simple Delivery will be optional for items priced £10 and under, letter-sized, and in certain sub-categories within the following areas.' The list includes more than 30 categories including antiques, books, cameras, coins, furniture and stamps. Simple Delivery also changed when sellers receive their profit after they have posted an item. For tracked deliveries, funds are released two days after the carrier confirms delivery. If there is no successful delivery scan then the funds are available eight days after the order date as long as the item was shipped within three days. If not, it defaults to 14 days.
The Sun
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Ebay makes ANOTHER change to postage policy following seller backlash
EBAY has made a major change to its Simple Delivery, just days after the policy was introduced. From April 15, private sellers on eBay were only able to list items on the platform using its 'Simple Delivery' shipping method. This meant that sellers could no longer arrange their own shipping and had to pay for the item to be delivered via eBay. Customers complained that the change made it harder for sellers to choose which courier they wanted to deliver items to their buyer. They also said they will need to travel further to drop items at courier points, which will make the process more complicated. After the backlash it appears that eBay has now quietly u-turned on the policy. The secondhand website will now allow items under £10 in some sub-categories to retain the custom postage option. Previously there were fewer exemptions, including for Authenticity Guarantee, bulky objects and items £10 or under that weight 100g or less. But the secondhand website has now introduced a longer list of exemptions. The page on the website reads: 'Simple Delivery will be optional for items priced £10 and under, letter-sized, and in certain sub-categories within the following areas.' The list includes more than 30 categories including antiques, books, cameras, coins, furniture and stamps. The policy may vary depending on the item you are listing so it is best to check if the opt out option is available when creating your listing. An eBay spokesperson said: "Simple Delivery will be optional for letter-sized items that are £10 or under and listed under certain categories like Trading Cards, Coins, and Stamps. "These changes reflect our commitment to continue to optimise the experience for our customers, aligned to how different types of products are traded on eBay." How does Simple Delivery work? Simple Delivery was already an option on eBay, but the change that was introduced in April made it mandatory for sellers. Ebay said Simple Delivery is an 'all-in-one delivery solution' that is designed to make the process smoother and save customers money. How to spot valuable items COMMENTS by Consumer Editor, Alice Grahns: It's easy to check if items in your attic are valuable. As a first step, go on eBay to check what other similar pieces, if not the same, have sold for recently. Simply search for your item, filter by 'sold listings' and toggle by the highest value. This will give you an idea of how much others are willing to pay for it. The method can be used for everything ranging from rare coins and notes to stamps, old toys, books and vinyl records - just to mention a few examples. For coins, online tools from change experts like Coin Hunter are also helpful to see how much it could be worth. Plus, you can refer to Change Checker's latest scarcity index update to see which coins are topping the charts. For especially valuable items, you may want to enlist the help of experts or auction houses. Do your research first though and be aware of any fees for evaluating your stuff. As a rule of thumb, rarity and condition are key factors in determining the value of any item. You're never guaranteed to make a mint, however. It said sellers will save 20% on postage costs due to its competitive rates with couriers including Royal Mail and Evri. Ebay also said it will speed up the payment process so sellers will receive their profit faster. When listing an item via Simple Delivery, eBay recommends the size and weight of the item and the seller will need to confirm this information is correct before they can post it. Once an item is sold, the seller will receive a printer-less QR code and prepaid printable label and can choose which one is easiest. The seller then has to take the item to their nearest carrier location or can book a home collection. But sellers have voiced concern that this could make it easier for items to go missing. Meanwhile, even if you had a preference about which courier will deliver your parcel, eBay is not under any obligation to honour it. It has said that in some situations sellers will be provided with a shipping label from a non-perferred carrier that they must use. In its FAQs eBay has also warned that excluding certain carriers from your preferences may increase your delivery cost and your item may be available to fewer buyers. Ebay has also said that if you want to have an item collected then you should exclude Evri from your preferences. But Evri is one of the cheapest couriers. Choosing to send items with Royal Mail instead of Evri would add 77p to the cost of sending a 1kg parcel. Payment changes Simple Delivery also changed when sellers receive their profit after they have posted an item. For tracked deliveries, funds are released two days after the carrier confirms delivery. If there is no successful delivery scan then the funds are available eight days after the order date as long as the item was shipped within three days. If not, it defaults to 14 days. Tracking updates The secondhand platform has said that Simple Delivery will give buyers peace of mind if an item is lost or damaged in transit. The labels come with automatic tracking so buyers always know where their items are. Ebay has said it will handle claims with buyers so sellers do not have to. .
