A BARMAID is in the money after she found a rare 20p coin.

Charlotte Hopper and her partner Tony Clarke searched through their loose change after hearing about the coins - which have no 2008 date printed on them - on the news.

Up to 200,000 new 20p coins have entered circulation after a blunder by the Royal Mint last year.

Charlotte, 19, a barmaid and waitress at Hornsey's Bar and Grill, in Seaton Carew, was delighted to discover one of the prized coins.

She said: "I'd heard about these 20p pieces through the news, and when I got home I remembered to ask my partner if he had any 20p pieces.

"The first coin he picked up had no date on it.

"I didn't believe it at first, but checked it out on the internet and it said they are worth about £50. We were really pleased with it."

One coin has already been sold for a staggering £7,100, 35,000 times its face value, on internet site eBay.

However, Charlotte, of Winterbottom Avenue, in the West View area of Hartlepool, said they will offer the special coin to partner Tony's father who is a coin collector.

The last time an undated coin entered circulation was more than 300 years ago in 1672 when Charles II reigned.

Coin expert Nick Hart, of private firm The London Mint Office, said: "Mistakes like this not only fascinate people, but also have considerable value increase significance.

"We believe this extremely rare error will certainly get the public looking at the coins in their pockets again."