A savvy college student has sold a special edition 50p coin, featuring Paddington Bear, for £16,100 on eBay, after frenzied bidders battled to win the silver piece.

The Paddington Bear coin has not yet been released by the Royal Mint, but seller Jordan Mcilquham said she had found the coin in her change "after a quick shop" in Caerphilly, southWales.

Overall, 116 collectors fought for the coin, the only one currently in circulation, before the sale was won.

According to This is Money, when the Royal Mint discovered the coin had been found by the student, it demanded it be sent back and the eBay listing taken down.

To read the complete article, see:
Paddington Bear 50p coin sells for £16k after accidental release(https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/paddington-bear-50p-coin-sells-16k-accidental-release/)

David asks:

THE Royal Mint is set to release two new Paddington Bear 50p coins on Monday - as a leaked unreleased coin is already being flogged for £16,000 on eBay.

The uncirculated silver coins come with rare colour detail, in celebration of Paddington Bear's 60th anniversary.

It features the iconic Peruvian bear in two of the most iconic locations from his London adventures - Paddington Station and Buckingham Palace.

The coins will go on sale on the Royal Mint's website from Monday, June 18.

Dave Knapton, the coins' designer at The Royal Mint, said: "I loved reading the books about Paddington when I was younger, and felt a real sense of nostalgia as I was designing thesecoins."

The news comes as a student claimed they had found one of the rare Paddington Bear coins in South Wales and listed it on eBay at a whopping £16,100, reports Express.co.uk.

Responding to the alleged leak, Royal Mint later told This is Money: "It has been reported to us that a commemorative 50p coin featuring Paddington Bear has been spotted.

"We have undertaken our usual review when we are informed by the general public of such matters.

"However we can confirm that at no point was any commitment given to purchase the coin.

"The launch of the new Paddington Coins will proceed as originally planned."

To read the complete article, see:
New Paddington Bear 50p coins out SOON as leaked coin sells for £16k oneBay (https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/709754/royal-mint-news-50p-coin-paddington-bear-ebay-rare-silver)

Jordan added: "I'm not a coin collector so it was a bit of a surprise. I have been contacted by the Royal Mint. We had advice and were told it was their mistake so I could keep the coinif I wanted to.

"I put it up on eBay and it went up for £16,000 but I think it was a fake bid. It's currently still in my bedroom. I'm just keeping it for now.

"I'll have to get in contact with eBay and see what can come of it because I'm worried as there are so many fake bidders."

To read the complete article, see:
Royal Mint's new Paddington Bear 50p coin found by chance by Welsh student gets bids of£16,000 (https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/royal-mints-new-paddington-bear-14789194)