For the fifth and final time, the Royal Mint brings Peter Rabbit to its 50p coin range

One of the first Royal Mint licenced fifty pence coins to generate a buying frenzy, the debut Peter Rabbit coin, released in 2016, sold out its 15,000 mintage in barely a week. Three other character coins were released through that year, and in 2017 they returned with four new designs. Even more popular, the launch of another quartet in 2018 was also a success, but 2019 was considerably less complex,compring of just a single coin.

Well here we are for the fifth time with the launch of the latest Peter Rabbit coin. It’s still an octagonal fifty pence coin, and the stle of the coins hasn’t veered away from that established five years ago. Depicting Peter Rabbit on the ground, it employs the same ‘watercolour’ style of art used previously, and in the books, at least in silver form.

There’s also a 22kt red gold variant with a 500 mintage, but that one eschews colour and sticks with a clean strike. Given the frenzied purchasing of other recent Royal Mint gold coins, some with extremely high pricing, we wouldn’t be surprised if this followed suit. All of them are well presented, with the silver coin benefitting from the excellent solid acrylic frames for ease of display. A base metal coin will keep the kids happy.

Available from 9am UK time, this is the last time that Peter Rabbit will adorn a UK 50p coin and this design will also not be released as circulating currency, either. If you liked the previous issues, this makes a decent way to end it. If the previous coins didn’t appeal, there’s nothing here to change that view.

PRESS RELEASE: The Royal Mint has announced the return of one of the most famous and best-loved children’s literary characters – Peter Rabbit™ onto UK commemorative 50p coins for one last time. The new design for 2020 will feature on Brilliant Uncirculated, Silver Proof and Gold Proof 50p commemorative coins. First introduced onto UK coins in 2016 to celebrate Beatrix Potter’s 150th anniversary, Peter Rabbit has also appeared on UK coins in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The new 2020 design, developed in collaboration with Penguin Ventures on behalf of Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd, Beatrix Potter’s original publisher, depicts the famously cheeky rabbit in his trademark blue jacket sneaking under the gate in search of lettuces.

The masterful, hand-painted style of Beatrix Potter’s original illustration has been carefully engraved by The Royal Mint’s coin designer, Emma Noble, to immortalise the mischievous rabbit on the 2020 version of the coin. In addition to previous Beatrix Potter collections, Emma has previously designed coins commemorating the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s coronation, Remembrance Sunday, and King George I.

Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of the Commemorative Coin division at The Royal Mint and The Royal Mint Experience said, “The Royal Mint has celebrated Peter Rabbit on 50p coins for five years and this year for the final time, the nation’s favourite bunny will feature on a new UK commemorative 50p coin. We are delighted to be continuing the tales of Peter Rabbit and capturing his latest adventure on UK coins, giving fans the opportunity to complete their Beatrix Potter UK 50p commemorative coin collection.”

Thomas Merrington, Creative Director at Penguin Ventures (part of Penguin Random House UK) said, “It’s been incredible to see Beatrix Potter’s beloved Peter Rabbit lead the way in commemorative character coins. Over the past 5 years The Royal Mint have brought Potter’s characters to life in a fantastically successful collection which has been treasured by fans around the UK. Whilst Peter will be bowing out of the 50p series I am excited about our future partnership with The Royal Mint”.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION £0.50 UKP £0.50 UKP
COMPOSITION 0.925 silver 0.9167 red gold
WEIGHT 8.0 grams 15.50 grams
SIZE 27.30 mm 27.30 mm
FINISH Proof with selective colour Proof
MINTAGE AS PRESENTED TBC 500
TOTAL COIN MINTAGE 15,000 500
PACKAGING Acrylic frame / C.O.A. Wooden box / C.O.A.
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