PREVIEW

BY MARK WORGAN

The Royal Mint has launched a collectable Cluedo 50p coin celebrating the murder mystery board game.

The new coin, produced in collaboration with Hasbro, was unveiled by Marcia Lewis, daughter of the game's creator, Anthony Pratt.

Its design features the six classic Cluedo suspects – Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, Mrs Peacock, Reverend Green and Mrs White – with selected editions using the colours traditionally associated with the characters. A magnifying glass, familiar to generations of players, also forms part of the design.

Actress and Strictly Come Dancing champion Ellie Leach, who previously played Miss Scarlett in the stage production Cluedo 2, was also on hand for the unveiling.

A magnifying glass, familiar to generations of players, also forms part of the design.

Microtext hidden within the coin names characters, locations and weapons from the game and can be viewed with the help of a magnifying glass.

The Royal Mint said the feature was intended to encourage collectors to examine the coin for clues in much the same way as players investigate a Cluedo mystery.

To coincide with the launch, the Royal Mint has announced an online competition called The Case of the Missing Coin, with a solid gold Cluedo 50p offered as the prize.

A new clue will be released each week on the Royal Mint's website and social media channels, with participants asked to identify a suspect, location and coin type.

People who solve all three clues will be entered into a prize draw for the gold coin, which is valued at more than £2,000.

The competition is due to close on 19 October.
Tim Mulhall, head of fandom at the Royal Mint, said: "Every coin we create tells a story, and the Cluedo 50p is no exception. Cluedo has captivated millions of players for decades, and we've channelled that spirit of mystery and intrigue into every detail of the design.

"We hope members of the public enjoy cracking the case of ‘The Missing Coin’ as much as we've enjoyed bringing the coin to life. There's a real thrill to coin collecting, and we hope solving this case connects that same passion for collecting with the mystery and excitement of a game like Cluedo."

Cluedo was invented by Anthony Pratt, who developed the game at his home in Birmingham during the Second World War.

His wife, Elva, designed the original board, and the game was produced by British manufacturer Waddingtons before appearing in shops in 1949.

Marcia Lewis, the couple's daughter, said: “My father invented the game at his home in Birmingham during the long nights under blackout in the Second World War, while my mother, Elva, designed the board. Produced by British manufacturers Waddingtons, Cluedo made its first appearance in the shops in 1949. Now, it's become part of national culture and family life right across the world, so to see his creation immortalised on this UK 50p coin is truly special.

I love that the iconic, original 1940s characters feature so strikingly in the design, and that the casing depicts the traditional board and pieces generations have grown up with. It's a beautiful tribute to the game my father brought to life.

“Visiting The Royal Mint to strike my own coin and to see the range of skills, craftsmanship and minute attention to detail that went into its production was a moment I will always cherish and one I know my parents would have too.
Cluedo has brought entertainment, escapism and delight to hundreds of millions of people and I’m immensely proud to know my father’s legacy, so cleverly represented in this coin, will now be treasured by collectors and families for many years to come.”

The collectable Cluedo 50p went on sale on the Royal Mint's website at 09:00 BST on 28 September, with prices starting at £19.95.
Silver and gold versions will also be available.

From 6 October, visitors to the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant, South Wales, will also be able to strike their own Cluedo 50p.
That version will carry a different, simplified design by Royal Mint coin designer Emma Noble, featuring a magnifying glass against the game's board.

Cluedo is one of the world's most recognisable murder mystery board games since going on sale in 1949 and continues to be played by millions of people around the world.