The collectable coin range celebrates Raymond Briggs’ classic tale with a new design created by Robin Shaw, award-winning animator and illustrator. Shaw was also the art director on The Snowman and The Snowdog animation, the heart-warming sequel to the original television adaption.

1. Snowman 50p
2. 40th Anniversary Of The Snowman 50p

The poignant design shows The Snowman and James hugging, reflecting how the timeless tale brings people together at Christmas.

Snowman 50p available coin in three versions and in colour

The 2020 Snowman coin comes in a range of finishes – including brilliant uncirculated, silver proof and gold proof – and arrives in packaging which explores the classic Raymond Briggs’ tale. There is also the option to purchase colour coins, which bring Shaw’s design to life using the latest printing technology.

The commemorative coin is only available in these versions and will notbe entering circulation.

2020 sees the return of the snowman for no particular reason, (again) and is again accompanied by his rosy cheeked creator James embracing his frozen friend, the design comes straight from the original illustrations, drawn by Robin Shaw. The B.U pack was on sale for a very unusual short time! A unique tribute to this iconic children’s book, the Royal Mint has released The Snowman 2020 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Coin. An officially licensed product of Snowman Enterprises Limited, each British legal tender 50p coin has been struck to Brilliant Uncirculated quality and is set in an official Royal Mint pack.

1. The latest festive 50p from the Royal Mint features an embrace between James and the Snowman, characters from the 1982 Christmas classic 'The Snowman' The latest 50p will be purely commemorative.
2. 2018 50 Pence Coin - The Snowman This coin was to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Snowman, which is a wordless picture book by Raymond Briggs. The Reverse, designed by Natasha Ratcliffe, shows an image of The Snowman holding James' hand while flying over the snowing village by the sea.

Robin Shaw, Designer of The Snowman 2020 coin, and award winning animator and illustrator, said:

“I’m delighted to have worked with The Royal Mint once more to bring The Snowman to life on a fifty pence. In a year where many of us have been separated, The Snowman helps remind us of the importance of a hug and our love for one another. In creating the 2020 design I wanted to capture this unique bond between The Snowman and James in recognition of Raymond Briggs’ timeless tale which unites us each Christmas.

“I’m looking forward to seeing all the fantastic drawings created through our special The Snowman sketch-a-long. As a child I was inspired by Raymond Briggs 1978 book and the 1982 television adaptation, so I’m excited to see what this generation of budding illustrators and animators comes up with.”

Third coin in the Snowman coin series

This is the third commemorative Snowman coin released by The Royal Mint in collaboration with Snowman Enterprises and officially licensed by Penguin Ventures (part of Penguin Random House UK), with previous coins released in 2018 and 2019.

First published in 1978 and adapted for television in 1982, Raymond Briggs’ heart-warming story of childhood innocence continues to delight young and old alike. Watching The Snowman with the whole family has become a much-loved Christmas tradition.

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To celebrate the new coin and provide a fun activity at home, The Royal Mint worked with Robin Shaw to create an exclusive ‘sketch-a-long’ for fans. The online class, available via The Royal Mint’s website, provides hints and tips to help budding animators create their own Snowman drawings and share them via #SnowmanSketchalong.

The Royal Mint has launched a new 50p piece, featuring festive children’s character, The Snowman.

Snowman 50p

This new coin shows The Snowman - with his iconic green bucket hat, wide smile and orange nose - hugging his young human friend, James.

The Royal Mint website says, “As the countdown to Christmas begins, The Snowman returns on a new 50p coin. For 2020, the characters from Raymond Briggs’ celebrated story are reunited in a warm embrace in a poignant design that captures the depth of their friendship.”

Last year’s coin - released in November - showed The Snowman on a snowy lawn with James in front of him, and a forest featuring in the background.

The first commemorative 50p coin depicting The Snowman was released in November 2018, celebrating 40 years since Raymond Briggs' Christmas novel was first published. This coin portrayed The Snowman flying through the sky above Brighton Pier, once again alongside James.

Price and how to get one

40th Anniversary Of The Snowman 50p

The new coin is available on the The Royal Mint website and costs £10 for the silver proof coin and £20 for the brilliant uncirculated coloured version. A sterling silver version of the coin is also available for £67.50, alongside a gold version costing £1,125.

This coin won’t enter circulation, which means you won’t find any popping up in your spare change.