Two new Paddington Bear 50p coins by Royal Mint go into circulation TODAY
COIN collectors can get their hands on two new 50p coins featuring children's icon Paddington Bear from today.
The coins have gone into the tills at the Royal Mint Mint Experience near Cardiff in Wales today and they'll be launched nationwide in the coming weeks.
That means that they might start cropping up in your change from today.
The Sun reported the expected launch of the coins yesterday, when coin expert Colin Bellamy from coin site told us they could be worth up to a fiver to begin with.
He said: "If this coin enters circulation – at that point, as with all new releases, the coin will sell on eBay for up to ten times face value until supply fulfils initial demand and prices fall."
But the design of the coins is slightly different to what was expected.
One sees the Peruvian bear with a penchant for marmalade sandwiches with his famous duffle coat and hat on as he stands outside the Tower of London.
The other sees Paddington tipping his hat while he stands in front of London landmark St Paul's Cathedral.
If you don't have any luck spotting the coins in your change - and we don't know yet how many will go into circulation - then you can buy them instead.
An unlimited number will be sold for £10 in brilliant uncirculated condition, while there will be 25,000 silver proof editions for £65, and 600 gold proof editions for £850.
Silver proof coins are the only ones in colour though, capturing the vivid blue and vibrant reds of Paddington’s famous duffle coat and hat.
The launch follows two new Paddington 50p coins going into circulation last year featuring Paddington waving a flag outside Buckingham Palace and Paddington sitting on a suitcase at his namesake Paddington train station.
What are the different types of coin?
THESE are the coins you can see from the Royal Mint:
- Circulated - these are the coins you'll see in your shop change.
- Brilliant uncirculated - these coins are a higher standard than circulating and bullion coins. The machines used to strike these coins are polished and finished by hand.
- Proof - these are the highest quality coins produced by the Royal Mint. Machines used to make these are all hand-finished.
- Bullion - these coins are made from gold and silver and are usually used as an investment that aims to retain a certain value over time.
Last year, marked the 60th anniversary of the first ever Paddington Bear book being published by author Michael Bond.
Collectors' versions of the coins are also still available to buy from the Royal Mint costing £10 for the brilliant uncirculated version and £60 for the coloured silver proof.
One of the coins sold for £16,000 after a student found a leaked one in her change before it came out and sold it on eBay.
Meanwhile, The Sun found a circulated one recently sold for £90 on - 180 times its face value - although it only attracted one bid.
But Coin Hunter says average sold prices for uncirculated versions of the coins are about £1.25.
Nicola Howell, director of consumer coin at The Royal Mint said: “Following the huge popularity of the coins featuring the much-loved bear last year, we thought it was only right that Paddington continued his adventures around London on UK coinage.
"Paddington Bear is a massive part of British popular culture and is a favourite amongst fans of all ages, who we’re sure will be looking out for him in their change, the first of which will go into tills in The Royal Mint Experience.”
More on coins
Earlier this month, Royal Mint launched a new Tower of London £5 coin that could be worth nearly FOUR times its value.
While earlier this year, a new £5 coin was launched to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth - prices also started from £13.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at [email protected]