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.

Last year, marked the 60th anniversary of the first ever Paddington Bear book being published by author Michael Bond.