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COIN mad collectors can now get their hands on a new Gruffalo 50p coin that features the beast's meeting with Mouse in the woods.

The first commemorative Gruffalo 50p coin featuring only the popular children's book character launched this February.

 The Royal Mint has just released a second Gruffalo 50p coin
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The Royal Mint has just released a second Gruffalo 50p coinCredit: PA:Press Association

Last month, the Royal Mint was then said to prepare a second coin featuring the beast or the mouse but it refused to confirm the news.

But today the second coin has gone on sale on the , although it won't go into general circulation so you won't find it cropping up in your spare change anytime soon.

A brilliant uncirculated version of the new coin can be snapped up for £10, while a silver coloured-in version is available for £65 and a gold Gruffalo coin is priced at £980.

There is once again only a limited run of 25,000 of the coloured version, which shows the monster's iconic orange eyes and thick brown fur looking down on Mouse.

 The Gruffalo 50ps have been released to celebrate the 20th anniversary since The Gruffalo was first published
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The Gruffalo 50ps have been released to celebrate the 20th anniversary since The Gruffalo was first publishedCredit: PA:Press Association

Most valuable 50p coins

THESE are the most valuable 50p coins currently in circulation that have recently sold for the most on eBay:

Kew Gardens, up to £160

This rare commemorative coin was created in 2009 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of London’s Kew Gardens. Only  210,000 of these coins were issued and a quick check online shows up that a circulated coin with this design sold for £160 on eBay.

Olympics athletics Blue Peter winner, up to £112

The coin was released in 2011 as part of a series of 50ps celebrating the London 2012 Olympics. Florence Jackson's drawing of a high-jumper made it on to the back of the coins after winning a competition hosted by kids' TV show, Blue Peter. Now they sell for up to .

Olympics aquatic error coin, up to £62

Ahead of the coin's release in 2011, the Royal Mint redesigned the aquatics 50p to show less water crossing the swimmer making their face more visible. But an unknown small number of coins were accidentally struck with the original design and entered into circulation. One recently after getting five bids.

UK Presidency of the EEC, up to £59

The Royal Mint released a new 50p when the UK joined the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973 and when the UK held the EU presidency in 1998. One recently after getting 20 bids.

Olympic football offside rule, up to £33

Fifteen bidders battled it out to get their hands on the Olympic football coin on eBay. Released as part of the Olympic collection, the tails side attempts to explain the off-side rule. Eventually, it .

The coins have been released to celebrate the 20th anniversary since The Gruffalo was first published.

Since then, author Julia Donaldson has released 13 books about the creature, sold 14.5million copies worldwide and the tale has been turned into a TV short.

Rachel Hooper of coin collecting website told The Sun the first coin was "incredibly popular" with collectors, and it is thought the new Gruffalo coin could prove just as popular.

Although, she couldn't estimate how much the new coins could be worth.

But The Sun recently found brilliant uncirculated versions of the first coin selling for more than double their price on eBay, with one in a  going for £21, while another in a  went for £17.50.

You should consider these figures more as a guide to what you can expect to get though as it's not guaranteed.

Colin Bellamy of the  added that the coins that don't go into general circulation generate less interest among collectors.

The Gruffalo isn't the only children's book character to entertain coin collectors though, as two new Paddington Bear coins went into circulation this year.

They joined two others already featuring the bear from darkest Peru that launched last year.

A similar commemorative coin celebrating popular children's book The Snowman was also released before Christmas for a tenner but it's now selling for up to .

Royal Mint launches new special 50p coin to celebrate its 50th anniversary
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