SILVER LINING
Royal Mint to release ‘a second Gruffalo 50p’ – and it could be worth up to £21
COIN collectors are keeping their eyes peeled as rumour has it a brand new Gruffalo coin is set to be released.
A commemorative Gruffalo 50p coin featuring the popular children's book character first launched this February.
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But experts over at say they've heard a second 50p coin is set to launch.
They wrote online: "We’ve just heard that something very exciting is making its way out of the deep dark wood and we can’t wait to share the news with you Change Checkers.
"Rumour has it that the Gruffalo will be returning for a second 50p coin…"
Coin expert Colin Bellamy of the has also heard the rumours and he reckons the new coin could either feature a full body depiction of the Gruffalo or the mouse.
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Royal Mint won't confirm or deny the reports.
The first Gruffalo coin didn't go into general circulation, which means you won't find it cropping up in your spare change any time soon - and Mr Bellamy reckons because of this it's unlikely a second coin will go into circulation.
Instead, the coin was available to buy from the Royal Mint in gold proof for £795 before later increasing in price to £980, and as a coloured silver proof for £65 - both of which have now sold out.
You can, however, still buy the brilliant uncirculated version for £10.
The illustration on it, which features the half grizzly bear half buffalo's toothy grin, was designed by Axel Scheffler.
ChangeChecker says the response from collectors to the first coin was "phenomenal" adding that it was "one of the most sought-after 50ps of recent years".
The Sun found brilliant uncirculated versions of the coin selling for more than double their price on eBay, with one in a going for £21, while another in a went for £17.50.
What are the different types of coin?
THESE are the coins you can see from the Royal Mint:
- Circulated - these are the coins you'll see in your shop change.
- Brilliant uncirculated - these coins are a higher standard than circulating and bullion coins. The machines used to strike these coins are polished and finished by hand.
- Proof - these are the highest quality coins produced by the Royal Mint. Machines used to make these are all hand-finished.
- Bullion - these coins are made from gold and silver and are usually used as an investment that aims to retain a certain value over time.
And it's thought a new Gruffalo coin could prove just as popular.
ChangeChecker said: "The release of a second coin is bound to cause a stir, not only in the collecting world, but among families and fans of the Gruffalo book too."
But Mr Bellamy adds that coins that don't go into general circulation generate less interest among collectors - especially if they don't sell out.
The coins were originally launched to celebrate 20 years of bedtime story The Gruffalo by Julie Donaldson, which was first published in 1999.
Since then Julia has released 13 books about the creature selling 13million copies worldwide, and the tale has even been turned into a TV short.
More on coins
The Gruffalo isn't the only children's book character to entertain coin collectors though, as two new Paddington Bear coins went into circulation this year.
They joined two others already featuring the bear from darkest Peru that launched last year.
A similar commemorative coin celebrating popular children's book The Snowman was also released before Christmas for a tenner but it's now selling for up to .
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