AS the countdown to Christmas begins, you might want to keep an eye out for valuable festive pennies popping up in your change.
If you discover a sought-after coin in your change, you can make money by selling it on.
You could do this through an auction, either online, in person, or through a dealer.
There are some coins which are known to fetch large sums of cash, but there are also lesser-known designs that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Sometimes 50ps, 10ps and more will sell for hundreds of pounds, if the right buyer is after it.
So if you're looking to make some extra cash this Christmas, fear not, as the change in your pocket could earn you a few quid.
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We've found a collection of Christmassy coins that perfectly suit the yuletide period too.
But whether they're old or new, or you've never seen one quite like it before, you should always be wary of fakes that may be doing the rounds too.
You can always head to experts to get your change validated, that way you'll know if it's the real deal – and checking other eBay listings can often give you an idea of the value as well.
You may be able to hike up the price if that's the case and you're selling.
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But the value of any rare coin can vary from one day to the next.
One collector may be willing to pay hundreds if it's rare, has a history, or a lovely nostalgic value, but the Bank of England may only accept it at face value.
Regardless, we've spotted some top sellers on eBay that have gone above and beyond face value.
They'll keep you in the festive spirit too – here's what they went for, and why they are rare.
The Snowman 50p – £136
The Snowman first appeared on a coin in 2018 and has appeared every year since.
A commemorative The Snowman 50p coin was first released in November 2018 to celebrate 40 years since Raymond Briggs' Christmas novel was published.
The coin featured The Snowman flying through the sky above Brighton Pier alongside human pal James.
In November 2019, the second coin was released showing The Snowman on a snow-carpeted lawn with James in front of him and the forest in the background.
On its third reincarnation, the coin instead features The Snowman hugging James.
The 2021coin features a scene straight out the original storybook of James creating the snowman.
Last year, the coin featured an image of the Snowman, sporting his famous hat and scarf, holding the Snowdog.
This year's coin depicts James dancing with the Snowman.
All of the coins are uncirculated and commemorative, so you'll have to buy them from the Royal Mint if you want to add one to your collection.
Circulated coins are the ones you'll see in your shop change.
Brilliant uncirculated coins are a higher standard than circulating and bullion coins.
The machines used to strike these coins are polished and finished by hand.
Proof coins are the highest quality coins produced by the Royal Mint and are all hand-finished.
Bullion coins are made from gold and silver and are usually used as an investment that aims to retain a certain value over time.
The Sun checked eBay to see how much The Snowman coins have sold for.
A 2022 The Snowman silver proof sold for a whopping £136 on eBay on November 5 with 32 bids.
R for Robin 10p – worth £18
The R 10p was released in the highly sought after 10p alphabet collection.
While it isn't explicitly a Christmas coin, it features a snowy scene that looks like it's straight from a Christmas card.
R for Robin features a wintery, snowflake background with a robin sitting inside the letter R.
In total, 26 different 10p coins were released with designs on each that connote an image to do with the letter it represents.
There are more of these "R" 10ps in circulation compared to Y for Yeoman Warder and Z for Zebra Crossing for example, but with 284,000 in circulation in total, it's still a very rare coin.
We spotted one that fetched an impressive £17.99 on eBay on August 21.
Gibraltar's Santa 50p – worth up to £54
Any festive fan who's mad about coins is going to be seeking out a coin with Father Christmas himself featured.
One rare version that fits the exact bill is a 1993 50p coin that sold for £54.33 on November 3.
There's a slight catch though, as for UK coin fanatics its value is only because it's decorative – and you can't actually spend it because it's not legal tender of here.
The coin was minted in Gibraltar, though the country's 50ps are identical in size, shape and weight to UK denominations.
Change experts say that means they can often find their way into tills and vending machines here in the UK undetected, so it wouldn't be too out of the ordinary for one to wind up in your change.
Isle of Man Christmas 50p – £32
Keen coin collectors will know that the Isle of Man has produced plenty of festive coins over the years.
This year's £2 coin is the first to feature King Charles III on the obverse and is the first to be released since the passing of the Queen.
The coin's design has been inspired by the stained-glass window of Church Kirk Christ, Rushen, on the Isle of Man and features the words "Merry Christmas".
The Sun found one of these coins that had sold for £16.99 on November 2.
But this isn't the only festive coin from the Isle of Man that can fetch a pretty penny.
In 2020, to mark 150 years since the passing of Charles Dickens, three new Isle of Man Christmas coins were released.
A coin featuring Scrooge from a Christmas Carol sold for £32 on November 5 with seven bids.
Like the coins from Gibraltar coins, these also can't be spent in the UK, but this doesn't mean you won't be able to sell them.
I have found a rare coin in my change, what do I do?
If you find a rare coin in your change, it can be like finding a hidden gem.
You should research the coin to see if may hold any value which is affected by how scarce it is.
Sites including eBay, The Royal Mint and Coin Hunter are good places to start.
You may have found the rare Kew Gardens 50p which has sold for £210.
Another coin in the Winnie the Pooh collection is the Kanga and Roo 50p.
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And a rare Blue Peter 50p sold for £253 on eBay.
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