Does your Paddington at the Palace 50p have the rare ‘crisp packet’ error?
It’s always exciting when a new coin ‘error’ or ‘mis strike’ is discovered, and I’ve just come across one I haven’t seen before – the Paddington at the Palace 50p ‘crisp packet’ error.
Paddington on UK Coins
Paddington Bear first appeared on UK coins in 2018, when 2 new 50ps were issued to celebrate 60 years since the beloved bear’s appearance in Michael Bond’s classic childhood tale. The first coin featured Paddington at his namesake train station, followed by him waving a flag in front of Buckingham Palace.
He continued his adventures around London in 2019 when a further 2 50ps were issued, showing Paddington in front of the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral.
‘Crisp Packet’ Error
In the bottom left of the 2018 Paddington at the Palace 50p is a path in front of the Palace railings, just above the initials ‘DK’ for designer David Knapton.
Image Credit: @coinpatrol on YouTube
In the normal version of the coin (pictured above) a few solid lines and a dotted line appear on the path, however coins with the ‘crisp packet’ error show a small bubble underneath the left-most line.
Image Credit: @coinpatrol on YouTube
The ‘crisp packet error’, named so due to its resemblance to a crumpled up crisp packet, is thought to be due to a cracked die causing the metal to pool. The particular example pictured above was shared by Coin Patrol on YouTube and is suspected to have been struck toward the start of the minting process using the cracked die, however several other collectors have reported the error at different stages of die deterioration.
Image credits: josne-4158 on eBay, redelvis0077 on PicClick, @coinpatrol on YouTube
It’s not known how many Paddington at the Palace 50ps have this ‘error’, however if you have one in your collection, it could make the coin much more sought-after.
Not the first cracked die error
The 2015 First World War Navy £2 made waves when collectors started to notice that some versions of the coin looked to have a flying flag atop the mast of the ship.
A number of people wondered whether there were two different designs of the Navy £2, however it was later confirmed that the extra ‘flag’ was caused by a cracked die during minting.
Image credit: @coinpatrol on YouTube
Do you have any error coins in your collection?
If you’re lucky enough to have an error coin or mis strike in your collection, let us know in the comments!
You can check out our Myths and Mis strikes blog for more information on common ones to look out for.
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I have a 2016 team GB 50p that has the picture turned a bit, so the corners of the picture are facing the flat edges of the coin. I put a picture on Facebook at the time, but a few people said they had them. Most people don’t notice straight away, even in the bank when I showed them.
I love it.
Hi Cindy, sounds like you have a misstrike, a good one to hold on to!
Kate
Just had a quick look and was thrilled to note that I had 2 of the “crisp packet ” errors, but it seems there are probably just as many “crisp packet” ones as the others. Maybe it’ll turn out that the “normal” ones are less common!!
Hi Sheila, lucky you!
They definitely seem to be more common than we originally though, but still a good one to hold on to.
Kate
Hi, if you have more than one of the Paddington crisp error coins, how much does it change the value of the coin? What could they be sold for?
Hi Sharron, we don’t know exactly how much the Paddington 50p with this error is worth, but a look on eBay shows one has recently been sold for £25.
I hope that helps, Kate
I have the navy flag error, the Paddington palace crisps packet error and the Paddington train station with extra metal on the train error in my collection 🙂
Hi Harry, sounds like you’ve got an interesting collection of error coins!
Thanks for sharing, Kate
YES , I’ve noticed the “flag” atop the mast on my 2015 5th portrait £2 coin , not visible on my 4th portrait version ..
Thanks for the clarification ..
If it was a distinct shape of an actual crisp packet then yeh……but it’s in effect just a blob of metal….in my eyes this is not an error worthy of anything…..if the “crisp packet” was visible with ie: Walkers Prawn cocktail written on it then yeh…..
It’s just and excess blob of metal and not worth the time of day.
Hi Alex, it would be extra special if you could determine the crisp flavour, but alas it is just metal pooling!
Do any of yours have the error?
Kate
Thank you I have checked my Paddington’s coins and have two with the error you have outlined.
I have many from offset, faded letters, part dated, uncleared features from bad stamped from pressing. Around fifteen with errors.
It sounds like you’ve got quite the collection of error coins Richard!
Kate
I am lucky I just checked and have the Paddington crisp packet error do you know how many were minted I am also lucky I got the gruffelo error 50p
Well done you! We’re not sure how many were minted with this ‘error’, but it seems they’re not as rare as we originally thought. Still a good one to have in your collection though!
Kate
Hmm, Paddington error looks like it maybe quite common, I have four with the error.
Sounds like you’re just lucky Nigel! They do seem to be more common than we originally thought, but still an interesting one to have in your collection.
Kate
I have a cool looking 20p from 2016….it looks like sunrays enemating from behind the Queens head..
It’s a lovely coin,no idea if it’s worth much…
Hi Steve, that sounds interesting! Send us a photo on Facebook or pop a post in the Change Checker Community group on Facebook to see what others think.
Kate
I have two Paddington at the Palace crisp errors in my collection
Wow Gerald! They seem to be more common than we originally thought, but still a good one to hold on to!
Kate
I think that I have a crisp packet on my coin
Nice one! Definitely one to keep hold of.
Kate
There are THREE versions with the Navy coin –
They are known as:
No Flag
Half Flag (little bit die)
Full Flag (lots of die)
You’re right Dave! Just like the crisp packet error having different levels of die damage, this is also the case for the Navy £2, and some refer to a smaller error as a half flag on the mast.
Kate
I have one of the First World War errors with the extra flag design,
Lucky you Jeffrey! Makes for an interesting story about the coin.
Kate
Hi Kate
Probably not the correct forum to mention it (but as it is advertised at bottom of this page I thought I would) but out of interest why is the HMS Belfast £2 coin sold separately and not part of the 2025 annual set? The Red Arrows 50p (also sold separately) is included.
Kind regards,
David
Hi David, thanks for your comment. Despite being 2025 dated, the HMS Belfast £2 was issued in December last year and is not part of the 2025 Annual Set. Each year, the Annual Set includes 5 coins from the year to come, however not all coins issued that year are included, just a selection.
I hope that helps, Kate