The Gene Wilder classic movie, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, is back on coins, with 50 golden tickets to find

Now considered one of the great film classics, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which premiered in 1971, was based on the children’s book by Roald Dahl, first published just seven years previously. Indeed, the screenplay for the Mel Stuart directed movie, was actually written by Dahl himself, but as is typical for Hollywood, it was rewritten, leading to Dahl later disowning it. It was not a big hit on release, but has become an absolute classic since, being remade in 2005 with Johnny Depp in the lead role, A new prequel film called simply ‘Wonka’ , will premiere in December, starring Timothee Chalamet.

However, it is the 1974 film that inspires this new coin from MTB/PAMP, the one starring the talented comedic actor, Gene Wilder, who will forever be the Waco Kid from Blazing Saddles, in my eyes, one of the funniest movies ever made. It’s with much amusement I learned that Roald Dahl originally wanted the lunatic, Spike Milligan, for the role!

It tells the story of Charlie Bucket, who bought a Wonka Bar of chocolate, and found one of just five golden tickets hidden in the world supply, and his trip into the wild, and decidedly weird factory. Wonka was looking for someone to take over the factory after he retired, and Charlie was the only one of the five winners to pass the tests to decide their worthiness. It’s all quite odd, and perfectly cast.

The coin is of a type that MTB/PAMP have done well for a few years now. A shaped, and coloured strike has been popularised there with a succession of nature releases in the format, as well as some super little Fender guitar coins. This one is a fine example of the breed, with the extravagant logo, and Wonka’s top hat, providing the extensions from a basically round coin. The colouring looks rich and defined, and the background pattern is suitably mesmerising.

The added draw with this release is an inspired one. Just like the chocolate bars in the movie potentially having an incredibly sought after golden ticket within them, just 50 of the 3,500 mintage of this coin will not have the standard paper Certificate of Authenticity, but will instead contain one formed in five grams of fine gold. They’re randomly placed inside a purple envelope (pictured at the top of this article in the background), so anybody could get one.

In summary, a very neat idea, for a classic piece of film history, and one expertly implemented by the producer. The outer packaging is attractive, and suits the theme perfectly, and it all goes to make a package that fans of movie memorabilia will no doubt find very tempting. It should be available to order now, with shipping commencing next month.