Friday, 29 Mar 2024

It’s elementary: New Sherlock Holmes 50p coin unveiled by Royal Mint

The Royal Mint has unveiled a new 50p coin dedicated to Sherlock Holmes which bears lettering so small that it requires a magnifying glass to decipher.

The coin commemorates 160 years since the birth of author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who was born on May 22, 1859.

Different versions of the coin have been put on sale on the Royal Mint’s website.

The prices range from £10 for a uncirculated version to £795 for a gold proof coin.

The sleuth’s profile, complete with pipe and deerstalker hat, appears on the coin, surrounded by the names of his most popular adventures.

Coin designer Stephen Raw said he chose to create a design that requires a magnifying glass to read the names of these famous cases to bring out the “inner detective” of anyone who has the coin.

Mr Raw said: “Growing up in London in the 1950s and 1960s, my father would often take a short detour in the family car to drive down Baker Street to see where Sherlock Holmes had lived. I love all the stories – in my design for the coin I have listed the most popular of those adventures but by necessity have kept the words very small.

“I hope it will encourage the ‘inner detective’ in those who are intrigued by the coin. Naturally, the only way to solve ‘the mystery of the text’ is by using that essential piece of equipment always carried by the intrepid sleuth: a magnifying glass.”

Royal Mint director Nicola Howell said: “We are all huge fans of Arthur Conan Doyle at the Royal Mint, which makes us all very happy to honour him with his own coin.”

She said she hoped that, like Sherlock Holmes, the coin “inspires some new detectives”.

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