Obverse. Photo © Royal Mint
  • 50 Pence 2021, Sp# H100, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Winnie the Pooh and Friends, Owl
  • 50 Pence 2021, Sp# H100, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Winnie the Pooh and Friends, Owl
  • 50 Pence 2021, Sp# H100, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Winnie the Pooh and Friends, Owl, Fold-out packaging
Description

This collection of 50p coins is a nostalgic reminder for fans of the ‘silly old bear’ and his friends, inspired by the classic stories of A. A. Milne and featuring the original illustrations of E. H. Shepard.

The series features nine coins celebrating the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood, with three released in 2020, featuring Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and Piglet, and six more over the following two years.

The first collection of stories about Winnie-the-Pooh was the book Winnie-the-Pooh (1926), and this was followed by The House at Pooh Corner (1928). Milne also included a poem about the bear in the children's verse book When We Were Very Young (1924) and many more in Now We Are Six (1927). All four volumes were illustrated by E. H. Shepard.

In 1961, Walt Disney Productions licensed certain film and other rights of Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories from the estate of A. A. Milne and the licensing agent Stephen Slesinger, Inc., and adapted the Pooh stories, using the unhyphenated name "Winnie the Pooh", into a series of features that would eventually become one of its most successful franchises.

Obverse

The fifth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the George IV State Diadem and drop earrings.

The George IV State Diadem, officially the Diamond Diadem, is a type of crown that was made in 1820 for King George IV. The diadem is worn by queens and queens consort in procession to coronations and State Openings of Parliament. The piece of jewellery has been featured in paintings and on stamps and currency. It can be seen in the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FIDEI DEFENSATRIX means Elizabeth II, by the grace of God, Queen and Defender of the Faith.

Engraver: Jody Clark

·ELIZABETH II·D·G·REG·F·D·50 PENCE·2021
J.C

Reverse

Depicts Owl writing a birthday greeting for Eeyore. A friendly bee buzzes from one coin to the next to link the series.

Owl is the stuffy and talkative eldest main character who presents himself as a mentor and teacher to the others. He was not based on a stuffed toy, so in the illustrations he looks more like a live animal.

Owl and most of his friends believe that he is the most intelligent animal in the wood, but he is really quite scatterbrained. He often rambles on into long-winded speeches and uses words that his friends do not understand. Though Owl likes to present himself as very knowledgeable, like most of the other characters he does not spell very well; he even spells his own name "Wol". When Pooh comes to him for help in writing a birthday greeting for Eeyore, Owl tells Pooh that he is writing, "A very happy birthday with love from Pooh", but in fact writes "HIPY PAPY BTHUTHDTH THUTHDA BTHUTHDY". Pooh, who cannot read or write himself, goes on his way happy with Owl's work and grateful for his help. When Rabbit (who is quite literate) comes to Owl to discuss a notice that Christopher Robin has left, Owl cannot read the notice. But rather than admit this, Owl anxiously bluffs his way through the conversation until he finally tricks Rabbit into reading the notice out loud, at which point Owl resumes his wise demeanor as if he had known all along what it had said.

Owl
©Disney

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Cupronickel
Weight 8 g
Diameter 27.3 mm
Thickness -
Shape polygon
Sides 7
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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