The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the world’s favourite box office attraction. With 33 blockbusters to date – and counting – the biggest movie franchise in history has legions of fans around the world.

The films feature Super Heroes who first appeared in American comic books. Founded in 1939, Timely Comics, the progenitor of Marvel Comics, introduced a raft of characters, including Human Torch, Sub-Mariner, and Captain America, whose popularity helped underpin the ‘Golden Age’ of comic books.

Marvel Comics was at the forefront of the revival of interest in Super Heroes during the early 1960s. As well as unveiling the Marvel Universe, the shared single reality in which its comic book characters operate, the introduction of the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk, Thor, X-Men, Avengers, and many more ushered in the new ‘Silver Age’.

Their adventures have been adapted for books, television, animation, video games and, of course, film, including 2008’s pivotal Iron Man. As the first movie to be set in the cinematic equivalent of the original Marvel Universe, it sparked a new era of success for the prized characters.

The Tuvalu legal tender coin portrays the official ‘MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY’ logo surrounded by coloured representations of seven Super Heroes in action: Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Black Panther, and Iron Man.

• Mintage 7500