Philatelists had a red letter day when unsuspecting customers at the Epsom Stamp Company came in with a rare, valuable collection of gold.

Last Wednesday (January 18), a couple offered staff at the shop in Waterloo Road with what they believed to be a small suitcase of probably worthless stamps in albums, envelopes and tins they found after cleaning out the husband’s father’s house.

But upon closer inspection, part-time owner Barry Mudie, a former officer with the Metropolitan Police, realised the collection could be worth thousands of pounds.

He immediately phoned the couple to tell them of their potential windfall.

The 21 sovereign coins in the collection could be worth as much as £200 each, he advised.

Mr Mudie said: “There were one to two decent stamps in albums and envelopes, but then I found an old cigarette tin which rattled.

“It was quite heavy so I was expecting to find some old copper coins. The tin, like the case, had not been opened for many years – if not decades – but when the lid did come off the tin was full of gold sovereigns and half sovereigns.

“In total there were 14 sovereigns and seven half sovereigns, worth at least £3,500 – and that is before checking for any with rare dates.”

From June: Defective rare stamp is set to go on auction in Ashtead this weekend

Mr Mudie said he did not know what the customers – who wished to remain anonymous – were going to do next, but believed they would seek a second opinion on the value of the coins.

He added: “When I rang up the owner to tell him the good news he was pretty ecstatic. He was expecting the whole lot to come to just a few pounds, if that.

“It just goes to prove that often people don’t know what they have, and why it is worth taking anything you suspect may be valuable to an honest dealer.”

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