A 'VERY rare coin' with a 'minting error' has sold online for eight times its original value.

A seller from Worcester sold the very rare £2 coin - a 2016 William Shakespeare's Tragedy Plays UK £2 coin. The coin marked the 400th anniversary of the Elizabethan poet and playwright's death in 1616.

The seller has described the circles of the coin near the bottom as being 'out of place' as 'a minting error'.

The £2 coin sold for £16 on eBay, eight times its original value.

The Royal Mint struck three official £2 coins in honour of the bard, described as a first for the United Kingdom.

A Royal Mint spokesperson said on the official website: "In the 400 years since his death, William Shakespeare is perhaps without peer.

"His influential works take their rightful place at the heart of our school curriculum and each new generation is gifted his legacy; ready to be inspired and entertained.

"Crisply minted to Brilliant Uncirculated standard, John Bergdahl's designs grace each one of these coins, an homage to Shakespeare's tragedies, comedies and historical works."