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Gold Snowman 50p hidden in Christmas calendar

The Royal Mint 2024 Snowman 50p, showing The Snowman putting a gold star on a Christmas tree as snow fallsThe Royal Mint
The 50p coin is based on the classic children's book about a young boy who builds a snowman that comes to life at Christmas

The Snowman is being depicted on a new Royal Mint 50p coin - with a gold version hidden away for one lucky person to find on Christmas Eve.

The Royal Mint said that to celebrate the launch of the 2024 collectable it has also secreted a solid gold coin behind door 24 of one of its advent calendars for someone to discover the night before Christmas.

The coin, which will not be entering general circulation, is available from £12 in a range of precious metal finishes and colours on the Llantrisant-based Royal Mint's website.

The advent calendars will be priced at £30, with a total of 3,000 available, but only one will have a gold Snowman coin hidden inside.

First published in 1978 as a wordless picture book, Raymond Briggs' classic The Snowman has since sold 5.5 million copies worldwide.

Telling the story of James, a young boy who builds a snowman that comes to life, it inspired an animated short film that was first broadcast on Channel 4 on Boxing Day 1982.

The new coin's design has been created by Robin Shaw, who was art director on The Snowman And The Snowdog, the sequel to that original television adaptation.

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

Since The Snowman first appeared on a Royal Mint 50p in 2018, close to 700,000 coins featuring the character have made their way into collections across 75 different countries.

The Royal Mint 2024 Snowman 50pThe Royal Mint
Published in 1978 The Snowman book has since sold 5.5 million copies worldwide

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 said: "It's an honour to see one of my designs appear once again on a 50 pence piece."

Thomas Merrington of Penguin Ventures - the licensing arm of Penguin Random House, the book's publishers - said: "The Snowman is a beloved and magical story that captures the hearts of many families at Christmas every year.

"We are thrilled our partnership with the Royal Mint continues to flourish with the release of this seventh coin."