New coins celebrating the 40th anniversary of Christmas classic The Snowman have been released by The Royal Mint.
The special edition 50p coins, which can be bought for £10, recreate one of the book’s iconic scenes: The Snowman and James “walking in the air” over Brighton Pier.
Natasha Radcliffe, who designed the coin, said: “Growing up, I remember reading The Snowman and sitting down on Christmas Day to watch the animated version was something of a family tradition.
“When I was asked to create a design for this new series I was excited, but also nervous. I know the story means so much to people and the illustrations are a huge part of that.
“I hope fans old and new will appreciate the new design and enjoy unwrapping them as they watch or read The Snowman this year.”
It comes after The Royal Mint recently released 2.6 million 10p coins into circulation celebrating “what makes Britain great”. They feature an A to Z of 26 designs including James Bond and fish and chips.
Silver and gold-proof versions of the new Snowman coin are also available – but at £60 and £775.
The Snowman, by Raymond Briggs, was published in 1978 and a famous film adaption was released four years later.
