London: The UK has unveiled a commemorative 50-pence coin to celebrate the 25th anniversary of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." The Royal Mint, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, launched the coin to mark the milestone of the film's release in 2001.
According to Thai News Agency, the coin's design features the "One Ring" from the acclaimed film directed by Peter Jackson, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy saga. Royal Mint designer Thomas T. Doherty crafted the reverse of the coin, which includes Elvish and Tamil script from the Mordor epic of Sauron, along with a poetic quote: "One ring to rule, one ring to find the whole; one ring to bind all souls in darkness." The obverse of the coin showcases the official portrait of King Charles III of the United Kingdom.
The Royal Mint has announced that some coins in this series will feature advanced light-reflecting technology, enabling them to project the Eye of Sauron when light strikes them. Priced at £15 (approximately 650 baht), the 50 pence coin is the first in a series of seven coins to be gradually released over the next three years. This series will also celebrate the anniversaries of the subsequent films, "The Two Towers" (2002) and "The Return of the King" (2003).
The film series, adapted from Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit," directed by Jackson, has grossed over $6 billion worldwide and won 17 Academy Awards. In March, the UK Post Office, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, released a commemorative stamp set featuring the films, encompassing a total of 12 stamps.
As the 25th anniversary celebrations continue, plans are underway for a new film, "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum," set to be released in theaters in 2027, with additional films anticipated in the future.