The Royal Mint has unveiled a new collectible coin celebrating the board game Cluedo, featuring all six classic characters and concealing intricate details visible only under magnification. The 50p design marks the first official UK coin dedicated to the game, commemorating 100 years since Cluedo's fictional crime was first conceived in 1926.
The coin displays Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, Mrs Peacock, Reverend Green and Mrs White arranged side by side atop the coloured character tokens that represent them during gameplay. In a nod to the detective work central to the game, the design incorporates microtext revealed only by a magnifying glass, containing the characters' names, locations and weapons.
The design was revealed by Ellie Leach, who portrays Miss Scarlett in the Cluedo stage play, alongside Marcia Lewis, daughter of the game's creators Anthony and Elva Pratt. According to the Royal Mint's announcement, the coin launched on 28 September 2026 in partnership with Hasbro.
How did Cluedo come to be created?
Lewis's parents developed the game during World War Two in their Birmingham home, during a period when entertainment options were severely limited.
It was in the evenings because people had to stay indoors after work in blackout conditions because of the constant threat of air raids, and people had time on their hands.Lewis characterised the project as
my father's lockdown project.
Her mother designed the board while her father conceived the game's concept, rules and method of play. However, material shortages in the post-war period delayed production significantly. Waddingtons, the game's manufacturer at the time and later acquired by Hasbro, could not produce Cluedo until late 1949.
So that's when Cluedo first appeared in the shops in quite a sort of understated, modest packaging,Lewis explained.
What makes the coin special?
The design was created by Henry Gray and is available in multiple formats and price points. According to numismatic sources, the range includes a standard Brilliant Uncirculated coin priced at £19.95, a colour version at £29.95, a silver proof at £99.50, a 1/40oz gold proof at £195 and a gold proof at £2,495. The standard coin is composed of cupro-nickel, weighs 8 grams and measures 27.3 millimetres in diameter.
Edition limits vary across the range. According to investment analysis, the silver proof is limited to 4,500 coins, the gold proof to 80 and the 1/40oz gold proof to 1,250. The Royal Mint has not announced edition limits for the two Brilliant Uncirculated versions.
Marcia Lewis expressed her enthusiasm for the tribute, stating that
It'll be kept within families and by collectors and treasured.She described the coin as
a wonderful tributeto her parents' creation and reflected on its global reach:
It's incredible to think that it's part of family life and national culture in probably getting on for 45 countries right across the world.
Why has Cluedo remained popular for so long?
Lewis attributes the game's enduring appeal to its reliance on skill, reasoning and deduction rather than chance alone. The game has expanded far beyond its original format, with modern editions featuring licensed versions based on Harry Potter, Star Wars and Game of Thrones. Additionally, Cluedo has been adapted into a stage play starring Leach, who previously won the television competition Strictly Come Dancing.
What opportunities are available for collectors and visitors?
The Royal Mint is hosting an online competition inviting amateur detectives to solve a mystery for the chance to win a solid gold Cluedo 50p coin valued at over £2,000. A new clue will be revealed each week, challenging participants to identify the suspect, location and coin type. Those who correctly solve all three clues will be entered into a prize draw. According to the competition details, entries close at 23:59 BST on 18 October 2026.
Beyond the competition, the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant is scheduled to offer visitors the opportunity to strike their own Cluedo 50p coin from 6 October 2026, providing an interactive experience with the commemorative design.
Tim Mulhall from The Royal Mint commented that Cluedo had captivated millions of players across decades, noting that the team had
channelled that spirit of mystery and intrigue into every detail of the design.
Key Facts
- The Cluedo 50p coin launched on 28 September 2026 and marks the first official UK coin celebrating the board game
- The design features hidden microtext visible only under magnification, containing character names, locations and weapons
- Multiple versions are available ranging from £19.95 for a standard Brilliant Uncirculated coin to £2,495 for a gold proof
- The Royal Mint is hosting a competition with entries closing on 18 October 2026, offering a gold proof coin worth over £2,000 to the winner
- Visitors to the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant can strike their own Cluedo 50p coin from 6 October 2026
