3071) The World of the Snowman, United Kingdom (UK): "Christmas Coin Series": Sixth Coin in the Series - A 50-pence Coin issued by the Royal Mint (RM) features Raymond Briggs’ timeless, magical tale of a young boy and his snowman: Date/Year of Coin issue: 11/2023:
The Royal Mint has issued the sixth design in its popular Christmas 50-pence coin series celebrating Raymond Briggs’ timeless, magical tale of a young boy and his snowman.
First released in 2018, each design captures a special scene in the story featuring the snowman and James and is depicted in full colour on both the sterling silver Proof and cupro-nickel versions.
The story began as a wordless picture book, created and illustrated by the late Raymond Briggs in 1978. Published by Puffin, The Snowman has sold over 5.5 million copies around the world.
The heartwarming story of a boy who befriends a magical snowman has become a classic winter’s tale that is now synonymous with Christmas in Britain.
First broadcast on British television on the 26.12.1982, "The Snowman" is a 26-minute animated film based on Raymond Briggs’ publication.
The softly illustrated animated scenes were paired together without spoken dialogue and became an immediate success, receiving a nomination for the 1982 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
A sequel titled - "The Snowdog" was subsequently released in 2012 to similar popularity.
The 2023 Coin Design:
- For 2023, the latest design continues the enchanted story of James, who builds a snowman that magically comes to life, and both boy and snowman embark on an unforgettable adventure.
- The design team at the Royal Mint has combined its traditional craftsmanship with innovative digital colour printing technology to bring the design to life, keeping true to the hand-drawn, nostalgic quality of artist Robin Shaw’s sketches, which are inspired by Raymond Brigg’s original illustrations.
On the Reverse of the 50 Pence Coin issued in Cupro-nickel, Silver and Gold variants is depicted a scene where the snowman, as he comes to life, happily dances with James, still in his bathrobe and in his backyard.
On the Obverse of the 50 Pence Coin issued in Cupro-nickel, Silver and Gold variants includes, for the first time in the Christmas series, the effigy of King Charles III designed by engraver Martin Jennings.
The peripheral inscriptions read - "CHARLES III. D.G. REX. FD. 50 PENCE. 2023".
The Coins have been issued in several 50 Pence Variants:
i) The specifications of the Gold Coin are:
Country: United Kingdom (UK); Coin Series Theme: “The World of the Snowman Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "The Snowman happily dancing with James"; Coin issue Date/Year: 2023; Denomination: 50 Pence; Metal Composition: .9167 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 15.5 grams; Diameter/Size: 27.3 mm; Mint: Royal Mint, UK; Maximum Mintage: 100 pieces; Coin Quality: Proof; Presentation Case: Yes; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes, numbered. Coin Designer:Royal Mint Team.
Remarks: The Gold Proof coin is encapsulated and presented in a hardwood high-gloss case accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
ii) The specifications of the Silver Coin are:
Country: United Kingdom (UK); Coin Series Theme: “The World of the Snowman Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "The Snowman happily dancing with James"; Coin issue Date/Year: 2023; Denomination: 50 Pence; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 8.0 grams; Diameter/Size: 27.3 mm; Mint: Royal Mint, UK; Maximum Mintage: 5,000 pieces; Coin Quality: Proof with applied colour; Presentation Case: Yes; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes, numbered. Coin Designer: Royal Mint Team.
- The Silver Proof variants are presented in a custom Perspex/Lucite transparent cube case enabling the coin to be displayed and viewed from both sides.
iii) The specifications of the Cupro-nickel Coin (first Variant) are:
Country: United Kingdom (UK); Coin Series Theme: “The World of the Snowman Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "The Snowman happily dancing with James"; Coin issue Date/Year: 2023; Denomination: 50 Pence; Metal Composition: Cupro-nickel (CuNi); Weight: 8.0 grams; Diameter/Size: 27.3 mm; Mint: Royal Mint, UK; Maximum Mintage: Unlimited pieces; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Presentation Case: Blister-pak type Folder; Coin Designer: Ffion Gwillim.
- The Brilliant Uncirculated base metal variants are presented in a Christmas-card type format suitable for exchanging as a holiday greeting.
iv) The specifications of the Cupro-nickel Coin (second Variant) are:
Country: United Kingdom (UK); Coin Series Theme: “The World of the Snowman Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "The Snowman happily dancing with James"; Coin issue Date/Year: 2023; Denomination: 50 Pence; Metal Composition: Cupro-nickel (CuNi); Weight: 8.0 grams; Diameter/Size: 27.3 mm; Mint: Royal Mint, UK; Maximum Mintage: 10,000 pieces; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) with applied colour (AC); Presentation: Blister-pak type Folder; Coin Designer: Royal Mint Team.
- The special edition cupro-nickel colour reverse is presented in a folder with illustrations of the snowman and text describing the animated film.
Links:
The World of the Snowman Coin Series:
MV Empire Windrush - 75 Years:
Music Legends Coin/Stamp Series:
2) Music Giants III, QUEEN, UK: A comprehensive Coin and Stamps Combo issued by the Royal Mail UK in collaboration with the Queen Band and the Royal Mint, UK: Date of Coin & Stamp combo issue: 09.06.2020
Arthurian Links:
1) King Arthur: The first coin in the six coins "Camelot Series"
Links on other Railway Posts on this blog:
1) Celebrating 150 Years of serving the Indian Nation by the Railways in 2002-2003
A Tribute to the Life of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022):
ii) Charles III, United Kingdom: Effigy unveiled on memorial 5 Pound Crowns and 50 Pence Coins
Related Links on this Blog:
Music Legends Coin Series:
2) Music Giants III, QUEEN, UK: A comprehensive Coin and Stamps Combo issued by the Royal Mail UK in collaboration with the Queen Band and the Royal Mint, UK: Date of Coin & Stamp combo issue: 09.06.2020
Links to "Great Engravers Coin Series":
"Tales of the Earth Coin Series": The Second Dinosaurs Collector Coin Series:
Myths & Legends Coin Series:
A Tribute to the Life of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022):
3) Hylaeosaurus, United Kingdom: Third and final Coin in a three Coin 50 Pence Coin Series titled "Tales of the Earth - Dinosauria", brought out by the Royal Mint, UK in five variants - Gold, Silver (x 2 coins) and Cupro-nickel (x 2 Coins): Date of coin issue: 01.06.2020
Links to some other interesting posts from the British Isles and British Overseas Territories/Dependencies:
1) Northern Ireland Polymer Bank Issues: Danske Bank (10 Pounds Polymer Banknotes), Bank of Ireland (5 & 10 Pound Polymer Banknotes) to go into circulation in 2020/21
4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone
Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very informative and interesting post."
Thank you so much, Trikha sahab.
DeleteRaj Kumar Srivastava has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very impressive."
Thank you so much Raj.
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