A rare coin worth £1,500 has been hidden in the UK, and you could be the lucky person to find it. The coin features The Snowman and a gold version is hidden in an advent calendar for someone to discover on Christmas Eve. The Royal Mint has hidden a solid gold coin behind door 24 in one limited-edition The Snowman advent calendar, giving someone the chance to “strike gold.”
The Snowman 50p coin is part of the 2024 collectable series and comes in various finishes, including colour editions, with prices starting at £12 on the Royal Mint’s website. This special coin will not be put into circulation like regular currency. Only one of the 3,000 advent calendars available will contain the gold proof coin of The Snowman.
The new coin celebrates Raymond Briggs’ picture book with a design by Robin Shaw, who worked on The Snowman And The Snowdog. The reverse design shows The Snowman decorating a Christmas tree, and some coins will feature colour to bring the story to life in a unique way. Since The Snowman first appeared on a 50p coin in 2018, nearly 700,000 coins featuring the character have been collected worldwide.
Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, expressed delight in continuing the tradition of The Snowman collectable 50p coin. The special design by Robin Shaw captures the magic of Christmas and The Snowman’s enduring appeal. The Snowman, first published in 1978, has sold over 5.5 million copies globally and inspired an animated short film that has become a Christmas classic.
Snowman fans will also have the opportunity to strike their own 50p coin featuring The Snowman at the Royal Mint Experience from November 11 onwards. The partnership between Penguin Ventures and the Royal Mint aims to keep The Snowman’s magic alive through these special coins, which have become a cherished part of many collectors’ holiday traditions.