THAT'S MINT
The Snowman makes a magical return on a 50p – how much is the new coin worth?
Find out where to find this festive collectable
THE Snowman is back just in time for Christmas, appearing on a brand new 50p coin.
The Royal Mint has revealed a special edition coin featuring Raymond Briggs' beloved festive character, making it a perfect collectible for the holiday season.
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The new design, created by illustrator Robin Shaw, captures the heart-warming scene of The Snowman placing a star at the top of a Christmas tree.
It's a fitting tribute to one of the UK's most iconic Christmas stories, with this being the seventh time The Snowman has appeared on a 50p coin.
The Snowman 50p has quickly become one of the most sought-after coins from The Royal Mint, and this latest release is no exception.
Since 2018, around 700,000 Snowman coins have been snapped up by collectors worldwide, making it a firm festive favourite.
Read more on rare coins
Fans of the classic story will be excited to know that this year’s edition comes with an extra special touch.
A limited number of the coins will be produced in full colour, bringing the snowy scene to life in even more detail.
From 11 November, fans will be able to strike their very own 50p featuring The Snowman.
The coins won’t be entering general circulation, so eager collectors will need to head to to get their hands on one.
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Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, says the Snowman 50p has become a Christmas tradition.
She said: ";We’re thrilled to continue this much-loved story on UK coinage.
"Robin Shaw’s design captures the magic of Christmas and adds to the timeless appeal of The Snowman."
RARE COINS
Robin Shaw, the artist behind the design, has a long history with the character, having worked as the art director on The Snowman and The Snowdog, the TV sequel to the original The Snowman.
Speaking about the new coin, Shaw said: "It’s an honour to see my design on a 50 pence piece once again, and this year’s edition is truly special."
For die-hard fans of the festive favourite, there’s an extra reason to celebrate this year.
The Royal Mint has hidden a solid gold Snowman coin behind door 24 of a limited-edition Snowman advent calendar.
One lucky buyer will strike gold on Christmas Eve.
The Snowman 50p coin is available in a variety of finishes, including precious metals, and collectors can also visit The Royal Mint Experience in South Wales from November 11 to strike their very own Snowman coin.
Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman, first published in 1978, has sold over 5.5 million copies worldwide and continues to capture the magic of Christmas for young and old alike.
The animated short film, first aired on Channel 4 in 1982, remains a Christmas TV staple.
This year’s 50p coin is the perfect way to celebrate the enduring appeal of The Snowman, offering fans a lasting keepsake to treasure.
Whether it’s placed in a collection or passed down as a family heirloom, The Snowman 50p is sure to be a festive hit.
Meanwhile, 50p coins seem to be all the rage, with one special edition 50p selling for triple its value.
And unlike The Snowman coin, not all collectables feature fun illustrations, in fact some coins can prove majorly valuable because of errors or mistakes.
That doesn't just apply to coins, a tiny marking on a £10 note could actually make it 1,700 more valuable as one note sold at an auction for a whopping £17,000.
How much can I buy the new Snowman coin for?
You can purchase the Snowman coins from The Royal Mint website.
Prices start from £11 for a brilliant uncirculated coin and £20 for a colour version, all the way up to £1,220 for a gold proof coin.
Collectors are already listing the coins on eBay too.
At the moment you can find one of the brilliant uncirculated 50p coins listed for £9.49 and the coloured version for £14.99.
Also listed on the bidding site is a silver-proof coin for £109.50.
Remember that just because an item is listed for a certain amount it does not mean that someone will buy it for that price.
Another thing to bear in mind is if you can still buy the coin directly from The Royal Mint website then it is unlikely you will get much more for it on eBay.
Usually, collectors buy these limited edition coins in the hope that they will go up in value as there is only a certain number of them available, but this is not always the case.
However, in 2018 one rare Snowman coin did fetch quite a sum.
The coin was launched on the Isle of Man in 2003 and only 10,000 were ever minted.
It was released as a limited-edition coin to mark the 25th anniversary of the release of The Snowman.
The rare 50p coin sold on eBay for £292 in October 2018.
In 2022 fans of The Snowman were able to add to their collection with new coins celebrating ten years since the release of The Snowman and Snowdog.
One of the silver proof coins in this range sold for £70 on eBay which was just a couple of pounds more than the list on The Royal Mint web website.
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At the moment other coins in The Snowman range are also listed on eBay.
A 2018 Snowman silver proof coin is listed for £100, while a gold proof coin of the same year is listed for a whopping £1,750.
What are the most rare and valuable coins?
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- Most rare and valuable 50p coins in circulation
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- Rare 2p coins revealed
- How to check if you have a rare and valuable banknote
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