A new coin is being released to mark the 50th anniversary of Aardman Animations, with some worth more than 4,000 times their face value.
The commemorative 50p piece is being launched by The Royal Mint in celebration of the studio’s five decades of storytelling and stop-motion animation.
Aardman is known globally for creating some of the UK’s most recognisable animated characters, including Wallace and Gromit, Morph, Shaun the Sheep, and the villainous Feathers McGraw.
The new coin features these beloved characters on its reverse side and was designed by Aardman.
Royal Mint releases new 50p commemorating Aardman Animations
Peter Lord, co-founder of Aardman, said: "I’m very proud that the story of Aardman, and the characters we’ve created over the last 50 years, are being celebrated by the work of The Royal Mint.
"It was such a pleasure to visit and see for myself, close up, the amazing care and artistry that goes into making these beautiful coins.
"In fact, the whole place reminded me of the Aardman studio – both are full of super-talented artists and craftspeople creating timeless work."
Mr Lord recently visited The Royal Mint to strike one of the first coins, marking the studio’s milestone year.
Aardman has been based in Bristol and continues to use traditional stop-motion techniques in its storytelling.
Its characters have charmed audiences for generations, from Morph’s early days on Take Hart to Wallace and Gromit’s iconic misadventures and Shaun the Sheep’s farmyard antics.
To mark its 50th year, the studio is planning a series of celebrations and will release a new film, Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, in the autumn.
Rebecca Morgan, director at The Royal Mint, said: "Aardman characters have been part of the fabric of British life for 50 years, and the nostalgia they carry is truly extraordinary.
"Whether you grew up watching Wallace and Gromit on Christmas Day, fell in love with Morph as a child, or introduced Shaun the Sheep to a new generation, these characters hold a very special place in people’s hearts."
The commemorative 50p coins will go on sale from 9am on Tuesday, June 9.
A selection of the coins will also include coloured artwork versions, bringing the characters to life in vivid detail.
A brilliant uncirculated edition will cost £15, while the colour edition is priced at £25.
Silver and gold versions are also available, priced at £92.50 and £2,420 respectively, with the latter being 4,840 times its face value as a 50p.
What makes a coin valuable?
The 50 pence piece has become the most valued and collected coin in the UK, with many collectable designs appearing on its heptagonal canvas.
Its 27.5mm diameter makes it the largest of any British coin, and allows space for decorative pictures. It has often been used to celebrate big events over the past 50 years of British history.
The rarest coins tend to be of the greatest value, with the mintage (number of coins with each design made) being the fundamental attraction for collectors.
Along with the design, other aspects of the coin that increase the value are the condition of the coin and whether it has an error in its design.
The way in which it is sold can also determine the coin’s value - while some coin collectors will bid vast amounts of money on eBay or at auction, others opt for more robust valuations by selling via a coin dealer.
Recommended reading:
- The rare Royal Mint 50p coin selling for more than 450 times its face value
- The subtle error that could make your 20p coin worth 200 times its face value
- 'Very rare' Royal Mint £1 coin worth more than £50 because of error
Royal Mint's top 10 most valuable 50p coins
Here is a list of the top 10 most valuable coins, when they were made, and how many were minted:
- Atlantic Salmon (2023), 200,000
- Kew Gardens (2009), 210,000
- Olympic Wrestling (2011), 1,129,500
- Olympic Football (2011), 1,161,500
- Olympic Judo (2011), 1,161,500
- Olympic Triathlon (2011), 1,163,500
- Peter Rabbit (2018), 1,400,000
- Flopsy Bunny (2018), 1,400,000
- Olympic Tennis (2011), 1,454,000
- Olympic Goalball (2011), 1,615,500
Have you ever collected or found a rare coin? Let us know in the comments.
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