How to find a rare gold 50p coin featuring festive favourite The Snowman --[Reported by Umva mag]

To celebrate the launch of this year’s collection of 50p coins featuring The Snowman, the Royal Mint is hiding a solid gold version in an advent calendar.

One lucky person will strike gold on Christmas eve when they open door number 24.

Three thousand limited edition The Snowman calendars have gone on sale for £30 each but only one contains the special coin.

The gold version of the coin can also be bought on the Royal Mint’s website but will set you back £1,355 and only 100 are produced.

If that’s out of your price range, there are also options in other metals as well as colour, starting at a more budget-friendly £12.

The advent calendars without a gold coin contain a colour-version behind door number 24, and all the calendars have chocolate coins behind the remaining doors.

This is the seventh year the Royal Mint has released 50p coins celebrating the much loved picture book created by Raymond Briggs, which was first published in 1978.

The 2024 collection features a new design by Robin Shaw, who was art director on The Snowman And The Snowdog, the sequel to the original TV adaptation of the book.

This year’s reverse design shows The Snowman decorating a Christmas tree.

Since The Snowman 50p pieces were first released, close to 700,000 coins featuring the character have made their way into collections globally across 75 different countries, the Mint said.

Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said: ‘The Snowman collectable 50p has become a Christmas tradition at the Royal Mint, and we are delighted to continue this much-loved story on UK coinage.

‘This year marks The Snowman’s seventh appearance on a 50p, and Robin Shaw’s special design expertly captures the magic of Christmas.

Mr Shaw, meanwhile, said: ‘It’s an honour to see one of my designs appear once again on a 50 pence piece.

‘This year’s Snowman coin captures the magic of Raymond Briggs’ most enduring creation while celebrating The Snowman’s latest adventure on UK coins.”

First published as a wordless picture book, The Snowman has since sold 5.5 million copies worldwide.

The book inspired an animated short film that was first broadcast on Channel 4 on December 26 1982.

Thomas Merrington, creative director, Penguin Ventures, said: ‘Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman is a beloved and magical story that captures the hearts of many families at Christmas every year and we are thrilled our partnership with the Royal Mint continues to flourish with the release of this seventh coin.’

From November 11, Snowman fans will also be able to strike their own 50p featuring The Snowman at the Royal Mint Experience, based in Llantrisant in South Wales.

To buy The Snowman advent calendar or coin visit the Royal Mint website.

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