Posts Tagged ‘silver 50p’
The Tale of Peter Rabbit and the 50p
In recent years there’s one coin that has catapulted to the top of the must-have list for many collectors. Of course, I’m talking about the 50p.
And whilst the 50p has always had a place in collector’s hearts – it has after all featured some of the most sought-after designs of all-time, such as Kew Gardens – it wasn’t until Beatrix Potter’s mischievous, blue-coated bunny first appeared on a 50p that our love for the 7-sided coin really took off. And with it came a whole new dawn of collecting, and a new generation of collectors.
Our tale starts back in 2016…
150th Anniversary of Beatrix Potter
It all started with the milestone 150th anniversary of one of Britain’s most beloved children’s book authors – Beatrix Potter.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit was her very first children’s tale to be published, in 1902, and it was an instant success. Spurred on by this, and inspired by fairy tales and fantasy, Potter penned 23 original children’s books in total, featuring charming illustrations and imaginative animal characters.
What Beatrix Potter didn’t know at the time was that her lively illustrations would later prove to be the inspiration behind one of, if not the, most popular coin series ever released.
Peter Rabbit’s 50p Debut
In honour of Beatrix Potter and her legacy, the Royal Mint announced a 50p coin collection in 2016, featuring four of her characters, and a design paying tribute to the author herself.
The obvious starting place was with Beatrix Potter’s most famous creation – Peter Rabbit. Known for his cheeky escapades in Mr McGregor’s garden, Peter Rabbit featured in 6 of Beatrix Potter’s tales.
The 50p release of Peter Rabbit was special for several reasons:
- First time a fictional, children’s book character had featured on a UK 50p – paving the way for future popular issues such as The Gruffalo, The Snowman and Paddington Bear.
- The Silver Proof version of the coin featured colour printed image for the very first time.
These two facts revolutionised 50p collecting, and our furry little friend Peter went from being a beloved literary character to a collecting sensation.
Start of the Collecting Storm
It’s safe to say that The Royal Mint created a collecting storm. 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.
But that was just the start.
Peter Rabbit has now featured on five 50ps, and the collector response has continued to be unprecedented – his popularity is unrivalled. Even when the edition limit of the Silver Proof 50p more than doubled to 35,000 in 2018, it completely sold out!
In fact, the Silver Proof 50p has become the must-have specification and sell-outs mean it’s notoriously difficult for collectors looking to back-fill gaps in their collections – some issues are virtually impossible to come across now.
It’s become imperative for collectors to snap up Silver Proof 50ps when they can – as in some cases waiting even just a few hours could prove to be too late. Take the Gruffalo Silver 50p – it took a mere 12 hours for the entire edition limit of 25,000 to sell-out. That’s a record.
Last Ever UK Peter Rabbit 50p
All in all, there has been 15 Beatrix Potter 50ps issued since 2016, each one helping solidify the Beatrix Potter 50p series as one of, if not the, most collectable coin series we’ve ever seen.
The coin collecting world was shook earlier this year when it was announced that 2020 would be the very last time Peter Rabbit would feature on a UK 50p coin.
Even though this may be the end of Peter Rabbit’s 50p journey, there’s no doubt that all the Beatrix Potter coins will continue to be highly desirable for years to come.
But this does now leave collectors wondering will the next collecting sensation be? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
If you’re interested…
The LAST EVER UK Peter Rabbit Silver 50p was released earlier this year, and we’re lucky to have a limited number available. Expertly struck from .925 Silver to a proof finish, it features a coloured image of Peter Rabbit escaping from Mr McGregor’s garden – a classic Beatrix Potter illustration! This is a must-have for all Beatrix Potter fans and 50p collectors alike. Click here for more information >>
The most anticipated coin of the decade – the official UK Brexit 50p
It’s a coin story the UK, if not the world, has been watching now for several years. And finally we have reached its conclusion, as today the UK withdraws from the European Union. To mark the occasion a brand new official UK 50p has been released.
Plans to release special Brexit coins were first announced by former chancellor Philip Hammond in 2018. Years in the making, I suspect this will be one of the most eagerly anticipated issues we’ve ever seen – it’s surely the coin of the decade!
Regardless of how you voted back in the historic referendum in 2016, it goes without saying that the 31st January 2020 will go down as one of the most significant dates in the UK’s history. This new coin is both marking this important moment in time and acts as a symbol of the UK’s future.
The new 50p coin has been struck to a variety of specifications. Each one features the inscription “Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations”, as well as the withdrawal date.
A 50p coin was struck when the UK joined the European Economic Community in 1973 and when the UK held the presidency of the EU in 1998. So it only seems fitting one is released to mark the UK’s departure from the EU. And by marking such a pivotal event in our history, this coin is certain to be sought-after by collectors in years to come.
Simply read on to discover how you can be one of the first UK collectors to add this brand new UK 50p to your collection…
The Official UK Brexit 50p BU Pack
To give as many collectors as possible the chance to own this highly sought-after coin, The Royal Mint has issued it in Brilliant Uncirculated quality. This finish is coveted by collectors as it means each coin is free from any marks you would find on circulated coins.
Each coin is protectively encapsulated in its attractive original Royal Mint packaging to preserve its quality for generations to come. What’s more, you can secure this BU Pack at the Royal Mint issue price of just £10 (+p&p).
Click here to find out more >>
Limited Edition Silver Proof Brexit 50p
Whilst thousands, if not millions of these new coins will be struck, you can choose to own the official Withdrawal from the EU 50p coin in a far more limited way.
Just 47,000 coins have been issued worldwide in a superior specification, struck from .925 Sterling Silver to a Proof finish. Given how popular commemorative 50ps are, this exclusive precious metal version is sure to be an even bigger hit.
What’s more, there will surely not be enough coins to satisfy demand – especially if you consider that over 17 million people voted to leave the EU in the historic 2016 referendum . That’s 307 voters for every new coin issued!
You can secure one for your collection today for just £60 (+p&p) – that’s the Royal Mint issue price.
Click here to find out more >>
Extremely Rare Gold Proof Brexit 50p
Finally, the rarest version of all. Just 1,500 collectors worldwide will be able to own the Withdrawal from the EU 50p impeccably struck to the most superior specification of all, from 22 Carat Red Gold to a proof finish.
Gold Proof 50ps have some of the fastest sell-out rates around – previous issues, including the Snowman and the Gruffalo, have sold out within 24 hours of release. So this history-making issue is not expected to be available for long. You can reserve yours today with a deposit of just £99.50 (+p&p) followed by nine further interest-free instalments – clearly the most affordable way to own this superior issue.
Click here to find out more >>
Please note, collector demand is expected to be extremely high so it is advised that you act quickly to avoid disappointment.
You can view the full UK Brexit 50p range by clicking here >>
The Top 5 Silver Proof 50ps of 2019
2019 really was a BIG year for coin collectors, but there’s one coin that took the spotlight, the 50p.
And in today’s video Adam takes a look back at the top 5 Silver Proof 50ps of 2019 based on sell-out time compared to edition limit.
Does your favourite make an appearance? Watch our latest video to find out!
Remember you can find out all the latest coin news and information here: https://www.westminstercollection.com…