UK 12-sided £1 coin - possible minting error? or fake? [opgelost]

Hello,

I was just wondering if anyone is able to tell me whether this 12-sided £1 coin (dated 2016) has a minting error or whether it's a fake.

When lined up with other £1 coins, the top edge has the reeded edge, whereas the other have a smooth edge (on both coins the 12 edges alternate reeded-smooth) and the coin seems slightly less well polished.
He is holding out that it's a minting error - but having checked sites like Chards, I can't find this error being reported.

The weight and feel of the coin are totally normal compared to other ones, and the small hologram is there with the £ changing to a 1. Photos here - the photo of two coins - it's the one on the right.

http://imgur.com/a/FoswL

*Sorry if the photo quality isn't good enough, he sent me photos from his phone, and it's not very good. I can get better photos if needed, but it will take awhile.

Please, could someone help?
Many Thanks!

I currently have six £1 coins (1 of 2017 and 5 of 2016) in pocket change ...

There is no 'top' side of the coin, as the shield below is between angles - so top also between.
For these night-time pictures just made, the coins are tilted to right slightly ...

and one of them (2016) then has a plain 'top' and the other five are reeded. On those pictures the top is taken to be above the ETH letters. It may be random whichever edge is top - so not a minting error and not a fake.
Could make better pictures tomorrow in daylight. Welcome to the site.

EDIT: Next day I made these ...

Thank you so much for your help - it seems like this is probably just part of a normal difference between coins then.

Really appreciate your help on this.

Thank you.

I also have six pieces and on all six the reeded segment is above the ETH letters. In a random case the chance would be around 50 - 50. Now we have for 12 coins a result of 11 - 1. The sample size is still to small too make definite conclusions but I wonder how random it is.

I have just checked 16 coins dated 2016 & 2017 and all are reeded above the ETH.

Just checked a few more coins I have found, and indeed, I have a coin that is plain next to ETH. Dated 2016



This is only one coin I have found like it, although I have looked at 40 coins

Just received a 2016 £1.00 coin where the plain section is above the ETH in ELIZABETH.
Now have both the 2016 & 2017 variants of these coins.
I have checked hundreds, but these are the only two so far with this difference.

The coin is not struck at the same time as the reeding, so both should exist.

Yes, I agree, but it seems very strange that after checking nearly 400 coins in total, I have only found one of each date with this variation.
If they are produced randomly, then it should be closer to 1 in 2!