'Rare' The Snowman 50p coin being sold for high price

The Christmas coin, which depicts The Snowman, is being sold for £659.50 on online sales platform eBay in Stroud.

You can view the item listing here: tinyurl.com/3nnzfd79

The coin is described in the item description as being a rare 2008 Snowman and James sterling silver and coloured Christmas proof 50p from the Isle of Man.

It is said to have been produced by the British Pobjoy Mint, a privately-held company-sector mint which operated from 1965 to 2023.

The brilliant uncirculated coin also comes with a case and a certificate.

It is described as being in a ‘lovely condition’.

A certificate shown in images from the item listing reads: “This is to certify that this legal tender Christmas 50p coin is an official issue by the Isle of Man Government.”

The Snowman began life as a 1978 picture book by author and illustrator Raymond Briggs.

It was made into an animated film and symphonic poem featuring the song Walking in the Air, with the animation first shown on Channel 4 on Boxing Day 1982.

The heartfelt and moving story focuses on a young boy, known in the film as James, who builds a snowman which comes to life at night.

Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint, said: “There are occasionally reports of coins selling for large amounts on the secondary market, some of which seem a bit farfetched, so we want to ensure collectors have the right information and pay a fair price.

“A coin is ultimately worth what the collector is willing to pay for it, but there are factors you should consider before committing to a price.

“This can include the condition of the coin, its design, its mintage figure and what it’s made of.

“If you have a coin and are unsure about its history, rarity or authenticity, we offer a range of services at The Royal Mint to help establish its likely value and help our customers build a bespoke collection.

“We also have a wide range of resources on our website to help people learn more about the coins in their pockets and coins they might inherit from family members.”

For more information about getting a fair price for a coin, visit The Royal Mint's website.