Aardman co-founder Peter Lord struck one of the first 50p coins at The Royal Mint to mark the launch of a new collectable celebrating 50 years of the Academy Award-winning animation studio. The “tails” side of the coin, designed by Aardman, features some of the studio’s most recognisable characters: Morph, Shaun the Sheep, scheming villain Feathers McGraw, and the beloved duo Wallace and Gromit. A selection of the coins will also bring the designs to life in colour.
“Aardman characters have been part of the fabric of British life for 50 years, and the nostalgia they carry is truly extraordinary,” said Rebecca Morgan, director at The Royal Mint. “Whether you grew up watching Wallace and Gromit on Christmas Day, fell in love with Morph as a child, or introduced Shaun the Sheep to a new generation, these characters hold a very special place in people’s hearts.”
“Royal Mint launches 50p coin featuring Aardman characters to mark studio's 50th anniversary.”
Lord, who visited The Royal Mint to see the minting process, said: “I’m very proud that the story of Aardman, and the characters we’ve created over the last 50 years, are being celebrated by the work of The Royal Mint. It was such a pleasure to visit and see for myself, close up, the amazing care and artistry that goes into making these beautiful coins. In fact, the whole place reminded me of the Aardman studio – both are full of super-talented artists and craftspeople creating timeless work. We love to bring pleasure and fun to our audiences, and these fabulous coins surely represent that joyous spirit.”
The coins will be available to buy from 9am on Tuesday June 9 from The Royal Mint’s website, in brilliant uncirculated and colour versions, as well as gold and silver editions. A gold version will be produced from recycled gold, sourced from old jewellery and coins. The Royal Mint said it aims to extend this approach to all of its collectable gold coins by the end of 2026.
Aardman, an employee-owned company based in Bristol, is known for its stop-motion animation, where characters are moved in small increments. It has been entertaining viewers since the 1970s, building generations of fans. Morph first appeared on the children’s art programme Take Hart, while Shaun the Sheep and Timmy charmed viewers, and cheese-loving inventor Wallace and his loyal dog Gromit became household names. This year, the studio celebrates its 50th anniversary with events and a new film, Shaun The Sheep: The Beast Of Mossy Bottom, due in the autumn.