The Royal Mint has unveiled the 50p piece in honour of Dennis the Menace to mark the character’s 75th anniversary.
The coin, part of a collaboration between The Royal Mint and Beano, features Dennis in his iconic red and black stripes alongside his mischievous dog Gnasher.
Royal Mint launches new Dennis the Menace 50p anniversary coin
The new coin sees Dennis the Menace wearing his famous red and black striped top and with his dog Gnasher (Image: Euan Cherry/PA Media Assignments)
Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint, said: “There’s something wonderfully fitting about this legendary mischief-maker finally making his mark on a collectible 50p and I’m sure Dennis himself would see it as his greatest prank yet.
“This coin captures everything we love about him, that unmistakable mischievous grin, his furry pal Gnasher by his side and that irresistible spirit of rebellion that has made him a favourite across generations.
“We’re incredibly proud to bring Dennis to life in this way, and we know this coin will be treasured by Beano fans young and old.”
Dennis the Menace first appeared in Beano issue 452 on March 17, 1951.
The Beano comic, published by Dundee-based DC Thomson since July 30, 1938, has entertained generations of children over its 87-year history, with characters also including Minnie the Minx, The Bash Street Kids, and Roger the Dodger.
Rob Glenny, executive director of growth and new product development at Beano Studios, said: “Dennis has always had a knack for turning up where you least expect him, and we’re very excited that he has now landed on a 50p coin.
“To see that mischief officially minted is a brilliant way to mark 75 years of laughs, pranks and unleashed imagination.”
The coin is available to buy from the Royal Mint’s website from 9am on Thursday, with prices starting at £15 for a brilliant uncirculated coin.
Colour versions are also available for £25.
New Royal Mint coins in 2026
The Royal Mint has already unveiled several new coins for this year.
Its 2026 commemorative UK coin series celebrates various historic British anniversaries, such as 200 years of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), 100 years since the birth of Queen Elizabeth II, and a century of the British Grand Prix.
Other milestones remembered include 200 years since the first HMS Beagle expedition and 50 years of The King’s Trust.
The Royal Mint also announced a new 50p coin celebrating the speed and elegance of Concorde, marking 50 years since the aircraft’s first commercial flight.
The coin was made in partnership with British Airways and Airbus, and its reverse or “tails” side portrays the aircraft in flight, against a backdrop of a split-flap departure board, with the word Concorde appearing across the centre.
The Royal Mint also launched a new £5 coin, which forms part of a nationwide code-breaker challenge that could see entrants win a 250g gold bar (worth around £29,000).
The £5 denomination coin includes numbers, letters, and symbols that can be used to uncover layers of secrets, riddles, and puzzles that form “the Great British Treasure Hunt”, the Royal Mint said.
The Great British Treasure Hunt has five levels, the first of which is free to try through the Royal Mint’s website (but is not part of the competition).
Once this has been completed, further stages can be unlocked through the use of “The Penny Drops” £5 coin and packaging.
The Royal Mint will release the levels in waves (check the Royal Mint website for dates and details), starting from January 29, with each update containing various tips and hints.
The competition opens on February 3 and closes on March 30.
Entrants must successfully complete levels two to five inclusive of the treasure hunt by 11.59pm on March 30.
What are the most valuable Royal Mint coins?
The 50 pence piece has become one of the most sought-after and widely collected coins in the UK, thanks to the many distinctive designs that have appeared on its unique seven-sided shape.
With a diameter of 27.5mm, it is the largest British coin currently in circulation, offering plenty of space for detailed and decorative imagery.
Over the past 50 years, it has frequently been used to commemorate significant events and milestones in British history, further enhancing its appeal to collectors.
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Here is a list of the top 10 most valuable coins, when they were made, and how many were minted:
- Atlantic Salmon (2023), 200,000
- Kew Gardens (2009), 210,000
- Olympic Wrestling (2011), 1,129,500
- Olympic Football (2011), 1,161,500
- Olympic Judo (2011), 1,161,500
- Olympic Triathlon (2011), 1,163,500
- Peter Rabbit (2018), 1,400,000
- Flopsy Bunny (2018), 1,400,000
- Olympic Tennis (2011), 1,454,000
- Olympic Goalball (2011), 1,615,500
Have you collected any rare coins? Let us know in the comments.
