Royal Mint has launched three new dinosaur 50p coins - here’s how you can get your hands on them

The Royal Mint is now set to release three new 50p coins featuring dinosaurs - something which hasn’t been done before.
(Photo: Royal Mint)The Royal Mint is now set to release three new 50p coins featuring dinosaurs - something which hasn’t been done before.
(Photo: Royal Mint)
The Royal Mint is now set to release three new 50p coins featuring dinosaurs - something which hasn’t been done before. (Photo: Royal Mint)

The Royal Mint has launched three new 50p dinosaur coins using augmented reality - something which hasn’t been done before.

Featuring three different dinosaurs - the Hylaeosaurus, Megalosaurus, and the Iguanodon - the Dinosauria Collection has been designed by palaeontologists at the Natural History Museum and celebrates Britain’s role in the discovery of dinosaurs.

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Clare Maclennan, divisional director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint said: "As one of the nation's most loved tourist attractions remains closed, we are pleased to partner with the Natural History Museum to bring dinosaurs to life from the comfort of your home.

"It is the first time that The Royal Mint has combined augmented reality with a coin series as we continue to innovate and enrich the experience of coin collecting.”

What do the coins look like?

The Brilliant Uncirculated edition of the coin represents the Hylaeosaurus, Megalosaurus, and the Iguanodon in vivid detail with the latest colour techniques.

The range also acts as an educational guide, with information about the prehistoric creatures available through augmented reality technology.

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By downloading the Royal Mint Activate app and scanning the coin’s packaging, collectors can access exclusive facts, clips, images and other content.

The app brings the animals to life through animation and allows you to explore the “intricate details of each coin,” Ms Maclennan adds. It is available from the Apple app store and on Google Play.

Where can I find the dinosaur coins?

The dinosaur coins are only being released as collectors’ items, so it is quite unlikely that they'll end up in your spare change.

However, you can now buy all three coins on the Royal Mint website.

The coins feature three different dinosaurs - the Hylaeosaurus, Megalosaurus, and the Iguanodon (Photo: Royal Mint)The coins feature three different dinosaurs - the Hylaeosaurus, Megalosaurus, and the Iguanodon (Photo: Royal Mint)
The coins feature three different dinosaurs - the Hylaeosaurus, Megalosaurus, and the Iguanodon (Photo: Royal Mint)

How much do they cost?

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Prices start at £10 for the brilliant uncirculated coin, which will be available in an unlimited quantity.

Brilliant uncirculated coins are of a higher standard than circulating and bullion coins, and the machines used to strike these coins are polished and finished by hand.

The Royal Mint is also releasing 50,000 coloured versions of the coin which will cost £20 each, featuring augmented reality technology.

You can also purchase a silver proof coin for £60, a silver proof coloured version for £65, and a gold coin for a staggering £1,020.