What started as a routine Thursday turned into an extraordinary day for St Oswald’s Hospice volunteer, Nigel Collins, when he discovered a rare 1967 gold sovereign coin while lending a hand in our Finance Department.
Nigel began volunteering at the Hospice 14 years ago after retiring from his role as a Senior Manager. He said donating his time allowed him to “give something back” after his mother received care in the Hospice’s inpatient unit several years earlier. While Nigel typically volunteers with the Supporter Care Team, assisting with data entry, this Spring he also offered his time to the Finance team. He explained:
“I don’t usually volunteer in Finance, but I saw they needed extra support during a busy period and thought I would lend a hand.
“I was helping with banking of the money donated through the collection boxes which are placed in cafes, shops and restaurants. This includes looking out for foreign coins so that these can be separated, not valuable Sovereigns!”
The coin – a 1967 Queen Elizabeth II full Sovereign, weighing 8g and measuring 22.5mm in diameter – was passed onto the E-Commerce team, who confirmed its value and listed it on our eBay store.
E-Commerce Assistant, Miriam Atkinson, was the one to research and list the coin on eBay having worked with rare coins in a previous role:
“I recognised it straight away – a full 22ct gold sovereign in excellent condition – very rare to come across. Sovereigns are British gold coins produced by the Royal Mint, valued for their classic design, gold content, and rich history.
“Each type of Sovereign coin has a specific weight and diameter – which makes it easier to spot the genuine coins from the fakes. The fact that the coin was heavier than your typical £1 is one of the reasons Nigel could tell it was something special.”
The eBay auction started at £99.95 to encourage bidding interest and within 24 hours had soared past £400. The final winning bid, placed in the last few hours of the auction, came from a buyer in Brighton reaching a remarkable £640.
Anita Ball, Director of Income and Marketing for St Oswald’s Hospice, was thrilled to hear the story of Nigel and the rare coin:
“Nigel’s discovery of the Sovereign coin highlights the incredible value of our volunteers’ time and expertise. Without his eagle eye and knowledge, the coin may never have been found. Every donation, whether it’s time, a pre-loved item, or even a forgotten coin, helps ensure we’re there for those who need us most.”
You can shop St Oswald’s Hospice’s eBay shop and discover rare, unique and collectable items here.
