If you missed out on last year's special edition coins featuring Beatrix Potter characters, Paddington and The Snowman, there's great news because another collectible 50p is set to be released.

The Gruffalopinterest
The Gruffalo © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 1999 – Macmillan Children’s Books

Back in November last year, it first reported that the Royal Mint would be launching a coin to celebrate the 20th anniversary of author Julia Donaldson's famous character, The Gruffalo. According to a blog by the Post Office, the coin will be issued as both a silver and cupro-nickel 50p piece and will feature a depiction of The Gruffalo on the face of the coin, which will have a plain edge. And it could be here sooner than expected.

Although the first publication of Donaldson's best-seller was in March 1999, the Royal Mint has hinted that coin will be released a month earlier in February. In a tweet this week, the company even teased the release date, writing: "There's someone coming out of the deep dark wood... 19 February 2019!"

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When it comes to getting hold of the coin, it's not clear whether it will enter circulation or remain a collector's item at this stage. If you want to be in with a chance of getting your hands "one of 50 Gruffalo prizes", you can enter this Royal Mint competition here.

From: Country Living UK