Minted Menace

The Royal Mint and Beano have partnered to break an iconic prankster out of a comic book and onto an official United Kingdom 50 pence. Released on February 19, the Dennis the Menace collectible features the boy in his red-and-black sweater as well as his dog, an Abyssinian wire-haired tripe hound named Gnasher, in full color. Next to the pair is the legend 75 YEARS OF DENNIS. 

“Dennis the Menace is a true British icon who has been causing mayhem and bringing joy to readers for 75 remarkable years,” says Rebecca Morgan, the Royal Mint’s director of commemorative coins. “This coin captures everything we love about him, that unmistakable mischievous grin, his furry pal Gnasher by his side and that irresistible spirit of rebellion that has made him a favorite across generations. We’re incredibly proud to bring Dennis to life in this way, and we know this coin will be treasured by Beano fans young and old.”

The commemorative 50 pence is available in gold proof, silver proof, and brilliant-uncirculated versions, with prices starting at £15. From February 26, visitors to the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant, South Wales, can also strike their own Dennis the Menace 50-pence coin. For more information and to purchase, visit the Royal Mint’s website. 

Dennis the Menace

First featured in a strip in the children’s comic The Beano on March 17, 1951, “Dennis the Menace and Gnasher” chronicles the misadventures of Dennis, a badly behaved schoolboy who terrorizes his classmates. The series is the longest-running strip in The Beano. There are several movies and television shows featuring Dennis, with the most recent being Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed! in 2017.