Wallace and Gromit feature on new 50p as Royal Mint launches special anniversary coin worth £2,420

Wallace and Gromit are among a host of much‑loved characters appearing on a new commemorative 50p launched by the Royal Mint to mark 50 years of Aardman Animations.

The coin celebrates the half‑century milestone of the Bristol‑based studio behind some of Britain’s most recognisable stop‑motion creations.

Designed by Aardman, the reverse features a crowd scene including Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Morph and the villainous penguin Feathers McGraw.

Aardman, founded in the 1970s, is known for classics such as The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave.

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The commemorative collection offers a range of editions for collectors, starting at £15.

A colour version is priced at £25, while a silver proof colour coin costs £92.50. A limited‑edition print is available for £250.

At the top of the range is a gold proof coin retailing at £2,420.

Only 100 have been produced, each carrying a face value of 50p despite the premium price.

Once sold out, future buyers will need to obtain the coin on the secondary market. The gold proof edition has been struck using recycled gold sourced from jewellery and coins.

The collection went on sale on June 9 and generated significant interest, with virtual queues forming when sales opened.

Rebecca Morgan, the Mint’s director of commemorative coin, said: “Aardman characters have been part of the fabric of British life for 50 years, and the nostalgia they carry is truly extraordinary.

"Whether you grew up watching Wallace and Gromit on Christmas Day or fell in love with Morph as a child, these characters hold a very special place in people’s hearts.”

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The Royal Mint confirmed the coins are commemorative issues and will not enter general circulation, meaning they will not appear in everyday change or be available through banks.

They can only be purchased directly from the Mint.

Alongside the limited‑edition precious‑metal versions, the collection includes silver and standard editions aimed at a wider range of collectors.

While the premium coins attract the most attention due to their scarcity, the standard versions are produced in larger numbers and do not carry the same rarity value.

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