Winnie The Pooh & Friends Series

Introducing 'Winnie the Pooh and Friends' Gold Proof 50p collection.

The Royal Mint in collaboration with Disney have launched the 'Winnie the Pooh and friends' fifty pence collection. The series, which starts with Winnie the Pooh enjoying his favourite food 'a jar of honey' and was followed in 2020 by 2 more releases, Piglet, and Christopher Robin. The collection when complete will contain 9 coins of different designs, 6 of which are yet to be revealed. what we do know is that they feature Winnie's friends from hundred acre wood.

  

 

The origins of 'Winnie the Pooh' 

Children's favourite 'Winnie the Pooh' was the creation of author A.A Milne, Winnie first appeared in Milne's 1924 book of poems illustrated by E. H. Shepard, 'When We Were Very Young' as 'Mr Edward Bear'. It was not until 1926 that the character appeared as himself in his familiar red T-shirt in Milne's classic book 'Winnie the Pooh' again illustrated by E. H. Shepard, whose drawings are depicted by the Royal Mints designer Jody Clark in this wonderful 9 coin series.

The characters were inspired by Milne's Son 'Christopher Robin Milne' who became 'Christopher Robin' and his toys, Eeyore, Kanga, Piglet, Roo, Tigger and of cause Pooh himself. The setting of One Hundred Acre Wood is based on a real location in the Ashdown forest in East Sussex England, and the second home of Christopher Robin 'Hartfield' a small village to the north of 'Hundred Acre Wood' which in reality is named Five Hundred Acre Wood; Galleon's Leap was inspired by the prominent hilltop of Gill's Lap, while a clump of trees just north of Gill's Lap became Christopher Robin's The Enchanted Place, because no-one had ever been able to count whether there were 63 or 64 trees in the circle.

Winnie is also famed for inventing the game Poohsticks, originally played by Christopher Robin Milne on a wooden bridge across the Millbrook stream in Posingford Wood near to his home Cotchford Farm. The game, traditionally played by finding sticks in the wood, by dropping them from one side of the bridge, the stick which travels under the bridge the quickest and emerges first down stream is deemed the winner. The original bridge was replaced in 1999 with the design slightly altered to more closely match that of Shepard's original illustrations. the bridge is a popular tourist attraction with many people having played Poohsticks from the bridge. Although it does not take place in Posingford Wood, there is an annual Poohsticks world championship.

  

Above the 2nd and 3rd coin in the series, Christopher Robin and Piglet, completing the 2020 releases.

Pooh is said by his friends to be " a bear of very little brain", rather slow witted and quite naive, although does often have a good idea which is played out in many of the Pooh adventures. Winnie of course is most known for his love of sweet food, most notably 'honey' although condensed milk will do if there is no honey to be had. Pooh is also a talented poet and the stories are frequently punctuated by his poems and "hums".

The House at Pooh Corner (1928) is the second volume of stories about Winnie-the-Pooh, written by A. A. Milne and illustrated by E. H. Shepard. It is notable for the introduction of the character Tigger.
  

Above the second of 3 coins released in 2021 - Owl

In 1930 the US / Canadian rights to Winnie the Pooh were purchased from Milne by Stephen Slesinger for the sum of $1,000 advance and 66% of Slesinger's income. By November 1931 Pooh was to be a $50 million-a-year business, Slesinger continued developing Pooh's character until his death in 1953 where upon his wife took on Winnie until the rights were sold to Walt Disney in 1961.
Disney have insured Pooh's longevity, with a whole host of TV shows, Motion Pictures, Video Games and merchandise. Winnie the Pooh is as popular today as he was 90 years ago with new generations discovering Christopher Robin and Hundred Acre Wood all the time, he and his friends are set to be with us for a very long time to come.
The Royal Mint in collaboration with Disney have created yet another wonderful depiction of this lovable character. stay tuned here as we update you with each fantastic coin as it is released, but be quick as with only 525 struck of each coin they will sell out very quickly :. CLICK TO VIEW WINNIE AND OTHER SPECIAL PROOF 5OP COINS.   
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