Snowman 50p
It’s a magical day indeed as this morning, The Snowman™ has made a return to the UK’s favourite coin, the 50p!
This brand new 50p has been issued to continue the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the much-loved festive tale, The Snowman™!
As the story of The Snowman turned 40, this 2018 The Snowman 50p was struck especially for the occasion as a Brilliant Uncirculated. Raymond Briggs’ celebrated characters are brought to life in a wonderfully dynamic design – modeled by Robin Shaw, Assistant Director of The Snowman and the Snowdog.
In this latest release we see James and the Snowman embracing in a scene that is sure to warm your hearts this festive season!
Designed by Robin Shaw, this brand new 50p brings our favourite Christmas character to life exactly how we remember him from the famous tale.
- Snowman 50p Our Mission. CostlyCoins.co.uk is dedicated to helping you learn all about the rare coins in circulation in the UK. Information on the design, designers.
- 2020 sees the return of the snowman for no particular reason, (again) and is again accompanied by his rosy cheeked creator James embracing his frozen friend, the design comes straight from the original illustrations, drawn by Robin Shaw. The B.U pack was on sale for a very unusual short time!
With such a special issue, this coin is available in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality from
But this isn’t the first time we’ve seen The Snowman™ feature on a 50p! Previous Snowman 50p coins from The Royal Mint have proved incredibly popular with collectors and have even seen sell outs within just hours of release!
So, grab yourself a blanket and a mug of hot chocolate and cosy up, as we take a look at the history of The Snowman™ on coins…
2019 UK Snowman 50p
In 2019, The Snowman™ made his second UK 50p appearance, featuring alongside his friend James, set against the snowy mountains they famously fly over in the tale.
At the time of its release, it was the second Christmas 50p to be ever be released in the UK, with previous festive releases being dedicated to the £5 coin.
Snowman 50p 2019
This coin is still available to order in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for JUST £4.50 but we have STRICTLY LIMITED STOCK remaining, so act fast.
2018 UK Snowman 50p
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Christmas classic, Natasha Ratcliffe’s design features The Snowman and James ‘walking in the air’…
Snowman 50p Value
Issued as the very first UK Christmas 50p and very first UK Snowman issue, this coin was destined to be popular amongst collectors!
In fact, it was so popular that the Silver Proof version completely SOLD OUT on the first day of issue!
Whilst the 2018 release marked the first time that The Snowman™ has appeared on a UK coin, it’s actually not the first time that this frosty friend has appeared on a 50p…
Isle of Man Snowman 50ps
Over the years, The Snowman has featured on a number of different 50ps from The Isle of Man, some of which are incredibly sought after.
One such coin from 2003 featuring James and The Snowman™ recently sold for over £250 on the secondary market – not a bad return on a 50p coin!
Isle of Man coinage is particularly sought-after by collectors as mintages are significantly lower than in the UK, due to a population of around 85,000.
As these coins are very similar in appearance and specification to UK coins, they can sometimes find their way over here when people return from holidaying on the island.
Have you found an Isle of Man Snowman 50p on your travels or perhaps one has mistakenly made its way into your change! Let us know in the comments below!
It seems as though this frosty friend is a festive favourite amongst collectors but we want to know which Snowman 50p is your favourite!
Let us know in the comments below!
Gift The Snowman™ 50p this Christmas for JUST £4.50 (+p&p)
This coin really is the perfect festive treat for a loved one or even as a gift to yourself.
To secure the 2020 UK The Snowman™ 50p for just £4.50 (+p&p), click here >>
The Royal Mint, together with Snowman Enterprises Ltd., recently unveiled the 2020 50-penny featuring one of Britain’s most iconic festive characters, the trademarked The Snowman.
This is the third commemorative Snowman coin released by the Royal Mint under official license from Penguin Ventures (part of Penguin Random House UK), following coins released in 2018 and 2019.
First published in 1978 and adapted for television in 1982, Raymond Briggs’ heart-warming story of childhood innocence continues to delight young and old alike. Watching The Snowman with the whole family has become a much-loved Christmas tradition, the Royal Mint said.
This is a commemorative coin, for sale to collectors, and will not be entering circulation.
The new design celebrating Briggs’ classic tale is created by Robin Shaw, award-winning animator and illustrator. Shaw was also the art director on The Snowman and The Snowdog animation, the sequel to the original television adaptation.
The coin design shows the Snowman and the character James hugging, reflecting how the timeless tale brings people together at Christmas.
Shaw said, in a press release, “I’m delighted to have worked with the Royal Mint once more to bring The Snowman to life on a 50 pence. In a year where many of us have been separated, The Snowman helps remind us of the importance of a hug and our love for one another. In creating the 2020 design I wanted to capture this unique bond between The Snowman and James in recognition of Raymond Briggs’ timeless tale which unites us each Christmas.”
Specifications and versions
Snowman 50p Piece
The Snowman design is available in several collectible coin options.
The Jody Clark effigy of Queen Elizabeth II appears on the obverse of all four versions.
All of the coins measure 27.3 millimeters in diameter. The copper-nickel and silver versions each weigh 8 grams, and the gold version weighs 15.5 grams.
The Brilliant Uncirculated copper-nickel coin is available with or without color. The plain coin has an unlimited mintage, each priced at £10, and the color coin is limited to 15,000 pieces costing £20 each.
The Proof .925 fine (sterling) silver version features color and is limited to 7,000 pieces, priced at £67.50 apiece.
The Proof .9167 fine red gold coin is plain and limited to 275 pieces, retailing for £1,125 each.
Sketch-a-long design contest
To celebrate the new coins and provide a fun activity at home, the Royal Mint worked with Shaw to create an exclusive “sketch-a-long” for fans. This online class, available via the Royal Mint’s website, provides hints and tips to help budding animators create their own Snowman drawings and share them via #SnowmanSketchalong.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all the fantastic drawings created through our special The Snowman sketch-a-long,” Shaw said, in a press release. “As a child I was inspired by Raymond Briggs 1978 book and the 1982 television adaptation, so I’m excited to see what this generation of budding illustrators and animators comes up with.”
For more information, or to order the coins, visit the Royal Mint website,
www.royalmint.com.
Snowman 50p Coin 2018
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