What's up?

How quickly can you find out what is unusual about this paragraph? It looks so ordinary that you would think that nothing was wrong with it at all and, in fact, nothing is. But it is unusual. Why? If you study it and think about it you may find out, but I am not going to assist you in any way. You must do it without coaching. No doubt, if you work at it for long, it will dawn on you. Who knows? Go to work and try your skill. Par is about half an hour.

Lateral Thinking

(Apologies, this has been grabbed from another location - credit given in a while when I post the answer)

Add the pence - two pounds, 25p, £1.47, 16p, fifty pence.
(Clue, it's not 438)

Answers in the comments please


Answer:
The official answer is 506 from ITV, and here's how to fudge it (credit BBC Magazine Monitor that also show some other answsers and explanations)

first add everything. 200 + 25 + 147 + 16 + 50 = 438.

Now add the other sums which are visible. 5p (from the 25p) + 47p (from £1.47) + 7p (again from £1.47 [very tenuous!]) + 6p = 65p

Therefore 438 + 65 = 503.

Now add the 'p' from 25p and 16p and also the 'pence' from 50 pence giving an extra 3p.

Therefore 503 + 3 = 506p.

Although I like the approximation argument at the end of MM using 2lb of (new) pennies.