Why was Aslan not included on the Narnia 50p coin?

Aslan was not included on the Narnia 50p coin because the artistic depiction presented to the Royal Mint advisory committee was considered to resemble a poodle rather than a majestic lion.

What characters feature on the 2023 Narnia 50p coin?

The 2023 50-pence coin commemorating "The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe" features schoolgirl Lucy and the faun Mr Tumnus.

What was the Royal Mint's reason for not using the Aslan design?

The Royal Mint cited that the fine detail of the historic illustration of Aslan could not be clearly reproduced for the coin, and the design was perceived to lack the character's intended majestic presence.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Aslan's Poodle Predicament: Narnia Lion Misses Royal Mint Coin

Aslan's Poodle Predicament: Narnia Lion Misses Royal Mint Coin

8 Feb

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Summary

Aslan's depiction on a Royal Mint coin was cancelled.
The design was deemed too poodle-like, not majestic enough.
Lucy and Mr Tumnus feature on the Narnia 50p piece instead.

Aslan's Poodle Predicament: Narnia Lion Misses Royal Mint Coin

A planned depiction of Aslan for a 2023 Royal Mint 50-pence coin, intended to honor C.S. Lewis's "The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe," was ultimately abandoned. The artistic representation of the noble lion, a powerful symbol of goodness and justice in Narnia, was deemed to have "assumed the proportions of a poodle" by the coin's advisory committee.

Initially, members of the advisory committee were supportive of featuring Aslan prominently. However, a proposed model presented in September 2022 failed to capture the character's awe-inspiring majesty. A spokesperson for the Royal Mint stated that the fine detail of historic illustrations could not be clearly reproduced.

As a result, the Narnia-themed 50-pence coin released in 2023 features other beloved characters, schoolgirl Lucy and the faun Mr Tumnus, rather than the King of Narnia. The estate of C.S. Lewis, who intended Aslan as an allegory for Jesus, was unavailable for comment.