Rare 25 cent error coin sells for $599 – do you have one in your spare change?

A RARE 25 cent error coin has sold for $599 on eBay, and you could spot one in your spare change.

The coin in question was a Washington quarter from 1969 that has been struck off-center and is mis-shaped.

The first US President, George Washington, features on the coin, which was first released in 1932.

The coin was rolled out to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth, and has remained in circulation ever since.

The eBay listing noted that the error coin is "magnificently and grotesquely mis-shaped" and a "definite keeper".

It added that if it wasn't an error coin, it would be in "fine condition".

The coin racked up 28 bids and sold for $598.88 last month.

Of course, any coin is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it, meaning you're not guaranteed the windfall if you have a similar coin.

In fact, the price for a Washington quarter usually starts at $3, according to JM Bullion, an online retailer of precious metals.

This price is also reserved for coins that have been heavily circulated, it added.

Meanwhile, error coins often rack up eye-watering price tags due to being just that.

Is your small change worth a fortune?

If you think that you might have a rare coin then you may be able to make a real mint.

The most valuable coins are usually those with a low mintage or an error, as they're often deemed the most valuable by collectors.

You should check how much the coin is selling for on eBay.

Search the full name of the coin, select the "sold" listing and then toggle the search to "highest value".

It will give you an idea of the amount of money that the coin is going for.

You can either choose to sell the coin on eBay or through a specialist site such as Coinappraiser or USA Coin Book.

If you choose the auction website then remember to set a minimum price that is higher or at the very least equal to the face value of the coin.

Even if your coin “sells” on eBay for a high price there’s no guarantee that the buyer will cough up.

In its terms and conditions, eBay states that bidders enter a “legally binding contract to purchase an item”, but there’s no way to enforce this rule.

The most eBay can do is add a note to their account for the unpaid item or remove their ability to bid and buy.

Earlier this summer, a rare $2.5 Liberty Head coin sold for more than $3,300 on eBay.

We've rounded up the most valuable US coins worth up to $10,633 - and you could spot them in your spare change.