07/12/2024

Beatrix Potter 50p Coins

Beatrix Potter 50p coins are a collection of beautifully designed fifty pence coins from The Royal Mint in the UK.

First released in 2016, these coins have been a massive hit with the UK public and around the world resulting in additional special edition coins being released each year by The Royal Mint to satisfy the needs of the more serious coin collector.

You can buy coins in many versions from coins that have been found in general UK coin circulation up to gold proof coins.

Beatrix Potter 50p coins in circulation

We are often asked at ukcoins.co.uk, which are the rarest Beatrix Potter coins in circulation.

The Royal Mint first issued this fifty pence coin series in twenty sixteen to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter.

  • 2016 sixteen coins included the 150th-anniversary coin, Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Squirrel Nutkin, and Mrs. Tiggy Winkle.
  • 2017 coins included 2017 Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten, Benjamin Bunny, and Mr. Jeremy Fisher.
  • 2018 coins included 2018 Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tittlemouse, The Tailor of Gloucester, and Flopsy Bunny.
  • 2019 Peter Rabbit and 2020 Peter Rabbit coins were restricted to collectible only coins and never officially circulated. These are known as NIFC coins which means they are not intended for circulation.

Beatrix Potter 50p Mintage Figures

This chart shows (in millions) the number of Beatrix Potter coins put into general circulation (Source: Royal Mint UK).

beatrix potter coins mintage figures
beatrix potter coins mintage figures

So the scarcest Beatrix Potter coin in general circulation is the 2018 Peter Rabbit along with Flopsy Bunney at 1.4 million coins minted.

Next is Mrs. Tittlemouse with 1.7 million coins followed by our personal favourite, Jemima Puddle-Duck at 2.1 million coins.

Each of these sells to British coin collectors for more than their fifty pence face value.

Beatrix Potter Coin Collections

2016 coins include 150th-anniversary coin, Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Squirrel Nutkin, and Mrs. Tiggy Winkle.

beatrix potter 2016 coin collection
Beatrix Potter 2016 coin collection

2017 coins include Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten, Benjamin Bunny, and Mr. Jeremy Fisher.

Beatrix Potter 2017 coin collection
Beatrix Potter 2017 coin collection

2018 coins include Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tittlemouse, The Tailor of Gloucester, and Flopsy Bunny.

Beatrix Potter 2018 coin collection
Beatrix Potter 2018 coin collection

NIFC Coins

2019 and 2020 Peter Rabbit coins were not put into official circulation.

Beatrix Potter NIFC coins
Beatrix Potter NIFC coins

Beatrix Potter 50p Silver Proof Coin Mintage Figures

NameYearLEPMCMeBayThe Royal Mint
150th Anniversary20167,7507,750eBayThe Royal Mint
Peter Rabbit201615,00016,000eBayThe Royal Mint
Jemima Puddle-Duck201615,00016,000eBayNot Found
Squirrel Nutkin201615,00016,000eBayThe Royal Mint
Mrs Tiggy-Winkle201615,00016,000eBayNot Found
Peter Rabbit201730,00040,000eBayThe Royal Mint
Benjamin Bunny201730,00040,000eBayThe Royal Mint
Mr Jeremy Fisher201730,00040,000eBayThe Royal Mint
Tom Kitten201730,00040,000eBayThe Royal Mint
Peter Rabbit201830,00045,000eBayThe Royal Mint
Flopsy Bunny201830,00045,000eBayThe Royal Mint
The Tailor of Gloucester201830,00040,000eBayThe Royal Mint
Mrs. Tittlemouse201830,00040,000eBayThe Royal Mint
Peter Rabbit201930,00035,000eBayThe Royal Mint
Peter Rabbit202014,50015,000eBaySold Out
  • Mintage figures are taken from The Royal Mint website.
  • Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links which means we may get paid a commission if you make a qualifying purchase through our website. Using our link is at no additional cost to you.

LEP = Limited Edition Presentation

MCM = Maximum Coin Mintage

For example the 2016 Beatrix Potter coins had a maximum coin mintage of 16,000, with 15,000 being sold as the silver proof limited edition presentation. The other 1,000 coins were sold as in a black case for the Royal Mail via the Post Office.

The Post Office Silver Proof coins show the Post Office logo on the packaging and the COA will say LEP of 1,000 coins.

Beatrix Potter 50p Gold Proof Coin Mintage Figures

NameYearLEPMCMThe Royal Mint
150th Anniversary2016750750
Peter Rabbit 1/4 Oz2016500500
Peter Rabbit Coin & Book Gift Set2017450450The Royal Mint
Peter Rabbit Coin & Book Gift Set2018450500The Royal Mint
Peter Rabbit2019500500The Royal Mint
Peter Rabbit2020500500The Royal Mint
  • Mintage figures are taken from The Royal Mint website.
  • Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links which means we may get paid a commission if you make a qualifying purchase through our website. Using our link is at no additional cost to you.

Know the facts from fiction

As part of the Beatrix Potter 50p Coins, The Royal Mint issued 4 versions of the Peter Rabbit 2016 50p

  • Circulated (these you may find in your pocket change in varying condition) – collectible but not worth much more than face value. Sell for slightly more on eBay.
  • Brilliant Uncirculated (purchased directly from The Royal Mint website and usually in protective packaging as a collectible coin)
  • Silver Proof (coloured silver coin in a presentation pack and a known mintage run)
  • Gold Proof (plain gold coin in a presentation pack and a known mintage run)

2017 Beatrix Potter 50p coins saw the release of Silver Proof editions for Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Mr. Jeremy Fisher, and Tom Kitten.

2018 Beatrix Potter 50p coin releases included Silver Proof editions of Peter Rabbit, Flopsy Bunny, The Tailor of Gloucester and Mrs. Tittlemouse.

If you are buying a Silver Proof coin on eBay, only buy if it has a COA (Certificate of Authenticity). This is an individually numbered document issued with each Silver Proof coin from The Royal Mint.

Beatrix Potter 50p Colour Coins

Beware!

  • There are non-silver coins on eBay, colourised with stickers to look like the silver proof editions
  • There are non-silver coins on eBay in acetate/perspex display holders, to look like the silver proof editions

Coins with Stickers / Decals. Please note: These are NOT Silver Proof coins, the colour sticker has been applied to a regular coin.

You can find the Beatrix Potter decals for sale on eBay, without the coin.

Whilst collectible to some people, we only collect coins as issued by The Royal Mint.

Peter Rabbit 50p Silver Proof Coin 2017

Peter Rabbit 2017 50p Silver Proof Coin
Peter Rabbit 2017 50p Silver Proof Coin

Struck from Sterling Silver to a Proof finish, a limited edition of just 40,000 coins.

Peter Rabbit 2017 50p Silver Proof Coin Specifications

Denomination50p
Maximum Coin Mintage40,000
Alloy.925 Sterling Silver
Weight8.00g
Diameter27.30mm
Reverse DesignerEmma Noble
Obverse DesignerJody Clark
QualityProof

Peter Rabbit 50p Silver Proof Coin 2016

Peter Rabbit 2016 50p Silver Proof

Struck from Sterling Silver to a Proof finish, a limited edition of only 15,000 coins minted makes this coin very rare with less than half the mintage figure of the 2017 version.

Peter Rabbit 2016 50p Silver Proof Coin Specifications

Denomination50p
Maximum Coin Mintage15,000
Alloy.925 Sterling Silver
Weight8.00g
Diameter27.30mm
Reverse DesignerEmma Noble
Obverse DesignerJody Clark
QualityProof

If you are on a coin hunt to collect all the Beatrix Potter coins from your pocket change then buy a Beatrix Potter 50p Coin Collector Album (contains no coins) for a fun way to display them.

If you have been looking for these attractive looking coins, no doubt you have seen eBay Sellers selling these coins from new bags from the Post Office. Some people may not realise some of these coins are still being sold directly from The Royal Mint.

First of all, if you wonder what BU means, it stands for Brilliant Uncirculated. A BU coin means it has never been in general circulation and consequently should be in mint condition.

Finally, make sure not to pay too much for a coin out of a bag of 20 others.

If you are a real fan of everything Beatrix Potter, why not join The Beatrix Potter Society

Beatrix Potter Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialbeatrixpotter/

Peter Rabbit Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/officialpeterrabbit/

Beatrix Potter Official Twitter account: https://twitter.com/BeatrixPotter

Peter Rabbit Official Website: http://www.peterrabbit.co.uk

Frederick Warne & Co. is the owner of all rights, copyrights and trademarks in the Beatrix Potter character names and illustrations.

© Frederick Warne & Co., 2016