Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny among new Beatrix Potter 50p coins

Beloved characters including Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny are among those depicted on a new set of four 50p coins announced by the Royal Mint.

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Mrs Tittlemouse and another mouse from the Tailor of Gloucester will also feature on the coins, which will enter circulation later this year. The characters join Jemima Puddle-Duck, Squirrel Nutkin and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, along with a previous Peter Rabbit design, which were released in 2016 as the first part of the collection.

Collectible colour versions of the new four coins based on the original illustrations are available for purchase from the Royal Mint website. Special versions of the Peter Rabbit coin are already available, from £10 for an uncirculated version of the ordinary coin to £1,000 for a gold version.

Grown in popularity

The coins are created by the Royal Mint in Wales, which produces all UK coinage.

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Peter is displayed with carrots, while Mrs Tittlemouse carries a basket.

Anne Jessopp, acting CEO at The Royal Mint, said: “The Beatrix Potter range has grown in popularity since Peter Rabbit was first introduced onto UK coins in 2016.

“Since then, Peter Rabbit has been joined by a number of furry friends throughout the years.

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“This year we are delighted to present another group of Beatrix’s characters, giving them a new lease of life on our specially-designed coloured commemorative coins.”

Collector’s items?

The 2016 collection Jemima Puddle-Duck 50ps from 2016 have been on sale for between £7 and £15 on eBay, despite having a nominal value of just 50p.

While the coins are relatively more rare than others in circulation, they exist in the millions and thus won’t yield a fortune if you find one.

Some rare £1 coins, including the Edinburgh city version, drummed up collector interest as the old £1 was replaced by the new last year.

This piece originally appeared in our sister publication, iNews