Peter Rabbit 50p

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Peter Rabbit is arguably Beatrix Potter’s cheekiest character and he’s been one of the most popular and most-loved characters in children’s literature since his first creation.

He’s featured in books, films and even on the UK’s favourite coin, the 50p!

The UK 2016 Peter Rabbit Silver 50p was so popular that by mid-morning on the day it was released, The Royal Mint’s website crashed under the sheer weight of public interest. Not long after, all 15,000 coins completely sold out. Lifestyle Rare 50p coins: The Royal Mint’s 10 most unusual 50 pence pieces - from Kew Gardens to Peter Rabbit The rarer the coin the more money it is worth, though the value also depends on its.

Peter Rabbit 50p Coin

The 2018 Peter Rabbit 50p depicts Peter Rabbit eating radishes. It was the first of four new Beatrix Potter coins released in 2018 to celebrate the life and work of Beatrix Potter. Rare 50p coins: how to spot the valuable ones. The rarest are the Flopsy Bunny coin, the 2018 Peter Rabbit mint and one featuring Jemima Puddle-Duck. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share.

But where did Peter Rabbit’s tale begin and how did he end up on FIVE UK 50p coins?In this blog, we run through the exciting tale of the Peter Rabbit 50p series…

Bridging Generations

Peter Rabbit first appeared in literature back in 1902, when children’s author Beatrix Potter commercially published what was to become her best-seller, The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

The story is centred around Peter, who is far more adventurous than his siblings: Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail. Going against his mother’s instructions, Peter breaks into Mr. McGregor’s garden after being tempted by some delicious looking vegetables… After a close encounter with McGregor, Peter manages to escape, but sadly loses his shoes and iconic blue jacket.

Since 1902, Peter Rabbit has featured in eight books, over 9 tv/film adaptations. and has been made into numerous commemorative souvenirs – including a series of 50p coins!

He’s become a household a name across generations and is loved by families up and down the country.

United Kingdom Peter Rabbit 50p Coins

In 2016, to celebrate 150 years since the birth of Peter Rabbit author Beatrix Potter, The Royal Mint issued a series of 50p coins.

2016 Peter Rabbit 50p

The 2016 Peter Rabbit 50p was the first coin to be issued in the series and features a close up portrait of the loveable rabbit with his big whiskers taking centre-stage.

The design, by Emma Noble, uses original illustrations from the books to celebrate Potter’s life and works.

9,700,000 of these coins were issued into circulation and proved very popular amongst collectors!

2017 Peter Rabbit 50p

Next up in the series, is the 2017 Peter Rabbit 50p, which is my personal favourite!

Designed by Emma Noble, the coin features Peter Rabbit in his iconic blue jacket in a pose that was to become the emblem of Beatrix Potter’s work.

Peter Rabbit 50p Coin 2016

This 50p has a circulating mintage of 19,900,000. Do you have this coin in your collection? Comment below!

2018 Peter Rabbit 50p

The 2018 Peter Rabbit 50p coin is the third UK coin to feature the much-loved children’s character.

Designed by Emma Noble, the reverse features Peter Rabbit munching on radishes and has the joint lowest circulating mintage of all the Beatrix Potter 50p coins.

The 2018 Peter Rabbit and 2018 Flopsy Bunny 50ps have a circulating mintage of just 1,400,000, so if you have this 50p in your collection, consider yourself very lucky!

2019 Peter Rabbit 50p

The tale continued in 2019 with this 50p coin, which is the fourth coin to feature the much-loved Children’s character.

Struck by The Royal Mint, the reverse of the coin features an original illustration of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter that has been engraved by Royal Mint coin designer, Emma Noble.

This coin was issued in collector quality only and did not enter general circulation.

2020 Peter Rabbit 50p

Issued during a world pandemic, this Peter Rabbit 50p is arguably the forgotten coin of 2020.

It was confirmed to be the very last UK Peter Rabbit 50p, sadly bringing his UK 50p tale to an end. Masked by the events of the pandemic, the significance of this coin’s issue was missed.

It’s reverse features a design of an original Beatrix Potter illustration of Peter Rabbit, scrambling under Mr. McGregor’s fence.

It did not enter general circulation and was issued only in collector quality.

So, now we’ve run through all of the UK Peter Rabbit 50p designs, we want to know which is your favourite!

Which UK Peter Rabbit 50p is your favourite?

Secure the 2017 UK Peter Rabbit 50p to your collection today!

© Provided by The i The Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny designs were named among the rarest 50p coins by the Royal Mint (Photo: PA)

While many versions of the 50p coin have been issued, few designs raise a smile like those released to commemorate the beloved children’s author Beatrix Potter.

Various characters have been honoured over the years, with some of the coins issued in smaller mintages, which makes them more valued by collectors.

The Royal Mint has revealed the rarest 50p coins in circulation ahead of the 50th anniversary of decimalisation, which included two of the Beatrix Potter designs.

Here are the coins to look out for in your own loose change, and how they compare to some of the rarest coins in circulation.

© Provided by The i Two Beatrix Potter designs were named among the rarest 50p coins by the Royal Mint (Photo: PA)

How rare are the Beatrix Potter 50p coins?

Two of the Beatrix Potter collection make the Royal Mint’s top 10 rankings – one adorned with the image of Peter Rabbit, the other with Flopsy Bunny.

Both were released into circulation in 2018, and have a mintage of 1,400,000, putting them in joint sixth position.

While there has only been one Flopsy Bunny 50p coin issued, the Peter Rabbit design is one of three, with the others – released in 2016 and 2017 – far more common.

There are other relatively rare Beatrix Potter coins, such as the 2018 Mrs Tittlemouse coin with a circulation of 1,700,000, and the Jemima Puddle Duck design from 2016 at 2,100,000.

Others with a comparatively low mintage include the 2018 Tailor of Gloucester (3,900,000), and the 2016 Squirrel Nutkin (5,000,000), while the most common design is the 2017 Benjamin Button coin, with 25,000,000 released into circulation.

The 2009 Kew Gardens 50p remains by far the rarest coin in circulation, with a mintage of just 210,000, while the most common, the 1997 Britannia 50p, has a circulation of 456,364,100 times. Here is the Royal Mint’s full top 10:

1. 2009 Kew Gardens, 210,000

2. 2011 Olympic Wrestling, 1,129,500

=3. 2011 Olympic Football, 1,161,500

=3. 2011 Olympic Judo, 1,161,500

5. 2011 Olympic Triathlon, 1,163,500

=6. 2018 Peter Rabbit, 1,400,000

=6. 2018 Flopsy Bunny, 1,400,000

8. 2011 Olympic Tennis, 1,454,000

9. 2011 Olympic Goalball, 1,615,500

Peter Rabbit 50p 2017 Worth

10. 2011 Olympic Shooting, 1,656,500

Peter rabbit 50p 2017 worth

Are the Beatrix Potter 50p coins valuable?

Peter Rabbit 50p 2016

Peter Rabbit 50p

The rare coins website Change Checker has an eBay tracker, which details how some 50p coins can fetch significant sums in the secondary sale market.

According to this, the most valuable of the Beatrix Potter coins is the Jemima Puddle-Duck design, which fetched an average of £12.00 over the nine most recent completed eBay sales up to mid-January.

This is significantly behind the Kew Gardens 50p coin, which reportedly attracted an average price of £156.00.

There are are no shortage of sellers on eBay purporting to sell a range of rare 50p coins, which tend to offer the 2018 Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny designs for between £9 and £15.

It should be pointed out, as Change Checker states, the market in supposedly valuable coins “can be a bit of a minefield,” and it’s important to do your research before being taken in by viral stories of coins fetching huge sums.

Peter Rabbit 50p 2017

Last year, for example, various reports claimed a Battle of Hastings 50p sold for £63,000 on eBay, supposedly because it was “very rare”.

This coin was launched in 2016 to commemorate the famous battle’s 950th anniversary, with as many as 6.7 million entering circulation.

Peter Rabbit 50p Rare

Speaking to The Mirror, Alexandra Fiddons from Change Checker wasn’t able to explain exactly why the coin would sell for such a purportedly high fee, but said that sometimes “random coins” do reach surprising prices.

While some coins can fetch sums comfortably above their 50p value, often it is “error coins” – versions which found their way into circulation after being minted with mistakes – which are particularly valued by collectors.