Each coin features an illustration of the character on some of his best-known adventures.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mr Benn, five new 50p coins are to be issued.
Each coin features an illustration of Mr Benn on some of his best-known adventures – The Red Knight, The Cook, The Clown and The Spaceman alongside the official Mr Benn ‘50’ 50p.
Originally created by David McKee, Mr Benn began life as a children’s picture book in 1967, following an ordinary man who had extraordinary adventures when he visited a magical costume shop.
The book went on to be transformed into an animated television series transmitted by the BBC in 1971. The TV series became popular and was repeated regularly on the BBC for almost 30 years until Nickelodeon UK aired the series for a further nine years until 2010.
In 2017, animation studio Factory acquired the rights to David McKee’s Mr Benn, in a move which has allowed the company to grow the classic brand even bigger and release a series of 50th anniversary products including the 50p coins to mark the occasion.
Available in a range of finishes exclusively from The Westminster Collection, the coins include a single base metal Mr Benn anniversary logo design 50p and a set of five designs featuring Mr Benn in an array of costumes including The Spaceman, The Clown, The Red Knight and The Cook. There is also a silver 50p coin version available with coloured enamel and a silver set of five 50p coins.
“Mr Benn endures, I think, because people like the idea of being able to escape to another life, and at their heart they’re old fashioned stories which last – the elements that make up the films, the voice, the music, the story, all simple elements that endure – good old fashioned stories, with a good rhythm,” commented creator and illustrator, David McKee.
“I often say your characters are like your children, you potty train them and look after them and point them in a good direction, but they go off and do things you don’t expect – Mr Benn is living his own life and I’m excited to see what people make of the new products that are coming – and hope a new generation of children enjoy them as much as me.”
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