1796 Half-Cent coin sells for £225,700.

The collection belonged to Oxford University classics student, who died aged 20 in 1963 in a climbing accident. The 1976 half-cent remained hidden in matchboxes at his home for almost 50 years until his family found them during a clear-out. Struck in 1796, the coin was one of only 1,400 produced by the Philadelphia Mint.

The hammer price for the coin was £185,000 but, with fees, the overall price was £225,700.