As the Royal Mint launches a Mr. Men 50th anniversary coin, here’s other book-inspired collectables to buy

Honour the semicentennial of ‘Happyland’ by adding these keepsakes to your collection

Make your very own Mr. Grumpy a truly Mr. Happy with one of these commemorative coins (The Independent/The Royal Mint)

From 16 February, fans of the Mr. Men and Little Miss books will be able to get their hands on a commemorative coin created by the Royal Mint.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of these characters, there are six £5 coins in the collection, featuring Mr. Happy, Little Miss Sunshine, and Little Miss Giggles with Mr. Strong.

All the collectables have been decorated with a drawing by Adam Hargreaves, son of Roger Hargreaves, who was the original illustrator of the books.

Read more: As the David Bowie Royal Mint coin launches, collect these other Great Briton inspired keepsakes

To truly capture the vibrant personalities of the Mr. Men and Little Miss characters, a selection of the coins feature the latest colour printing techniques to give them their signature shades of yellow and blue.

While it won’t be entering circulation, you can buy your own online as a keepsake piece to add to an existing coin collection or to start a new one.

The classic stories written by Hargreaves were inspired by the simple question: “What does a tickle look like?” The answer was the famous Mr. Tickle, who is now one of more than 90 characters in the ever-growing world of “Happyland”.

As such, the Royal Mint will be hiding 50 golden Mr Tickle tickets among the colour coins, and every customer that finds one will win an exclusive Mr Men. and Little Miss prize bundle.

As well as the new collection, we’ve rounded up other coins inspired by literary and film characters for children, from Winnie the Pooh to Wallace and Gromit, to help you curate your very own library of commemorative coins.  

You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

Mr. Men and Little Miss

(The Royal Mint)

Cast your mind back to your childhood and chances are you were an avid reader of the Mr. Men and Little Miss book series; whether you were partial to Little Miss Naughty or Mr. Noisy, there was always a character for every kind of child. And now, for the first time ever, the gang are appearing on coins to commemorate the series’s 50th anniversary.

As well as a coloured coin for Mr. Happy (£22.50, Royalmint.com), which sees the character brought to life thanks to the use of his trademark yellow, the design is also available in silver and gold.

If you’d really like to expand your collection, there’s the option to buy a set of three uncirculated coins (£22.50, Royalmint.com), with Mr. Happy, Little Miss Sunshine, and Little Miss Giggles with Mr. Strong, each on a separate coin.

These collectables are a truly wonderful way to turn Mr. Grumpy’s frown upside down.

Buy now

Winnie the Pooh

Commemorate the famous bear and his pot of honey with this limited edition piece (The Royal Mint)

Fans of the honey-loving bear will be thrilled by the Royal Mint’s collection. As well as an individual coloured coin (£20, Royalmint.com) and gold and silver versions, the Winnie the Pooh-inspired collectables are available in a range of different sized sets, including a coloured set of three (£60, Royalmint.com) and a set of nine silver coins (£90, Royalmint.com) showcasing different characters. 

Postage is free and with every purchase you’ll receive a free coin holder so you can display them with pride on your mantelpiece.

Buy now

Beatrix Potter

(The Royal Mint)

Peter Rabbit is perhaps the most well-known book series created by writer, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist, Beatrix Potter, which follows the mischievous rabbit as he’s chased around the garden of Mr McGregor.

The Peter Rabbit 2018 UK 50p gold proof coin and book gift set (£1,080, Royalmint.com) is a collectable you'll treasure forever, and the hefty price tag reflects the limited availability of just 450 coins.

The set includes the first coin in the 2018 Beatrix Potter Collection – a gold 50p featuring an illustration of Peter Rabbit – and an accompanying book that has an illustrated cover designed exclusively for the set. The perfect (albeit very special) gift for Beatrix Potter fans.

Buy now

The Gruffalo 

(The Royal Mint)

The 20th anniversary of The Gruffalo was in 2019, and the Gruffalo and Mouse 2019 UK 50p brilliant uncirculated coin (£10, Royalmint.com) was one of the first coins of its kind to feature the purple monster with his brown mouse friend.

In the story, the duo join forces to walk through a dangerous forest with fantastical creatures causing danger at every turn.  

As it’s uncirculated, you can guarantee you won’t see this very often, making it all the more special, plus it comes in packaging that folds out to reveal fun facts about The Gruffalo.

Wallace and Gromit

(The Royal Mint)

The eccentric inventor Wallace and his trusted canine friend Gromit were created by Nick Park, and what originally started out as four short films and one feature-length film has since spawned numerous spin-offs and TV adaptations, becoming a firm pop-culture favourite.

Now forever commemorated on this Wallace and Gromit 2019 UK 50p brilliant uncirculated coin (£67.50, Royalmint.com), the design reveals the duo peering through the porthole of a rocket, and is a fun way for fans to celebrate the famous duo.

There’s even the latin inscription “caseus praestans” on the surface of the coin, which translates to “cracking cheese”, as the characters are known for their obsession with the food.

Buy now

Paddington Bear

(The Royal Mint)

This Paddington at the station 2018 UK 50p silver proof coin (£67.50, Royalmint.com) is a colourful keepsake for fans of the nation’s favourite bear. The character first appeared in the 1958 book A Bear Called Paddington written by Michael Bond and illustrated by Peggy Fortnum and other artists.

With a limited-edition run of 60,000, the gold coin proved so popular it sold out, so don’t miss out on your chance to add this silver style to your collection.

As the first design in the 2018 Paddington series by The Royal Mint, it has a colour-printed design that shows off the bear’s blue coat and famous red hat.

Buy now

For more on children’s literature, read our guide to the best kids’ poetry books that inspire and educate