Probably the most popular of all the coins you can find in your change are the Beatrix Potter 50p coins.
Find out how many there are to collect and which are the rarest and much more.
A great way to get children interested in money and encourage them to keep some rather than just see it as something to spend is to collect interesting coins in circulation.
One of the best ranges of coins for kids of all ages to collect (as well as adults) is the range of Beatrix Potter 50p coins.
Over the years my kids have collected them all, many of which we found in our everyday change.
Table of Contents
How Many Beatrix Potter 50p Coins Are There?
The Beatrix Potter series includes 13 different 50p coins released into circulation from 2016-2019, each featuring one of Beatrix Potter’s much-loved characters, some of whom feature on more than one coin.
The initial release of the first 5 coins proved so popular there were 2 more subsequent releases with 4 more coins released in 2017 and the final 4 in 2018.
Collection List in order of release:
- Jemima Puddle-Duck 50p (2016)
- Squirrel Nutkin 50p (2016)
- Beatrix Potter Anniversary Portrait 50p (2016)
- Mrs Tiggy-Winkle 50p (2016)
- Peter Rabbit 50p (2016)
- Peter Rabbit 50p (2017)
- Tom Kitten 50p (2017)
- Jeremy Fisher 50p (2017)
- Benjamin Bunny 50p (2017)
- Peter Rabbit 50p (2018)
- Flopsy Bunny 50p (2018)
- The Tailor of Gloucester (2018)
- Mrs Tittlemouse (2018)
Beatrix Potter 50p Coins
Beatrix Potter is one of the most successful and well-loved children’s authors of all time. For over a hundred years, her charming tales have captivated children and adults alike.
To celebrate 150 years since the birth of Beatrix Potter the Royal Mint released a very special Beatrix Potter 50p Coin ranges from 2016 to 2019.
The Beatrix Potter 50p coins have proved very popular with both collectors and Beatrix Potter readers alike.
Read on to find out more about each coin in the series including:
- Year of release
- Mintage (how many coins were made for circulation)
- Estimated Worth
For more information on each coin and the characters behind them and details on any specific rare examples, errors and possible fakes, click through to each individual coin page.
A note on values:
When it comes to how much a coin is worth one of the main factors that influence price is the condition of the coin, especially if it has been in circulation.
Uncirculated are the most sought after and valuable. Uncirculated means the coin has not been in circulation and therefore totally undamaged like most coins which have been, however small the damage may appear.
Estimated Worth: We have put the estimated worth for a coin that has been in circulation but is in excellent condition.
Ultimately the best part of collecting is the fun of finding and completing a set.
Which is the Rarest Beatrix Potter 50p Coin?
The rarest of Beatrix Potter 50p coins are the 2018 Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny with only 1,400,000 of each minted. They are each one of the rarest 50p coins both making the Top 10.
The most common is Benjamin Bunny with 25,000,000 minted.
Here’s the full list of descending order of rarity here’s the Beatrix Potter 50p Coins. Click the images to find out more information on each specific coin including values based on condition and known error rarities to look for.
Benjamin Bunny 50p
Mintage = 25,000,000
Estimated Worth: £1.00 – £1.50
The most common of all Beatrix Potter 50ps but still worth above face value if you have one in very good to excellent condition or even better uncirculated.
The Benjamin Bunny 50p was part of the second series of 50ps released in 2017. It features Benjamin Bunny in his coat and stand-out tam o’shanter headwear.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit 50p (2018)
Mintage = 19,900,000
Estimated Worth: £1.00 – £1.50
The Tale of Peter Rabbit 50p design was to celebrate the title of Beatrix Potters first ever publication by the same number. It is the 2nd release of 3 Peter Rabbit designs, this one from 2017. It is by far the most common of all the Peter Rabbit designs.
Mr Jeremy Fisher 50p
Mintage = 9,900,000
Estimated Worth: £1.00 – £1.50
The Mr. Jeremy Fisher 50p was released in 2017. He was the frog character in The Tale of Mr Fisher who went on a fishing trip to catch enough dinner for his friends but ended up nearly getting eaten.
Peter Rabbit 2016 50p
Mintage = 9,700,000
Estimated Worth: £1.00 – £1.50
The first Peter Rabbit coin was released in 2016 and features a chest, shoulder head and large ears portrait of Peter himself. It was the highest mintage of the first series of 5 Beatrix Potter coins of that year.
Tom Kitten 50p
Mintage = 9,500,000
Estimated Worth: £1.00 – £1.50
The Tom Kitten 50p was part of the second series of Beatrix Potter 50ps released in 2017. It was the lowest minted design for that year, but still, over 9 million were made.
Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle 50p
Mintage = 8,800,000
Estimated Worth: £1.00 – £1.50
The house proud Mrs Tiggy Winkle character featured in the first series of Beatrix Potter released in 2016.
Beatrix Potter Portrait 50p
Mintage = 6,900,000
Estimated Worth: £1.25 – £2.00
Whereas all the other 50p designs are inspired by Beatrix Potters books and characters, this is the only coin depicting the author herself. The design features a Beatrix Potter head and shoulder portrait at the top center of the coin.
Her name is inscribed in the centre “BEATRIX POTTER” underneath which is inscribed her life dates, “1866- 1943” with the years being separated by the ears of a miniature Tale of Peter Rabbit, her first book and most well-known character.
Squirrel Nutkin 50p
Mintage = 5,000,000
Estimated Worth: £1.25-£2.00
The Squirrel Nutkin 50p coin was minted in 2016 as part of the first series of 5 coins. It features the red squirrel character with his pointed ears separating his inscribed name at the top edges of the coin.
The Tailor of Gloucester 50p
Mintage = 3,900,000
Estimated Worth: £1.25 – £2.00
The Tailor of Gloucester features an unnamed mouse character from the story sitting on a cotton-reel reading a paper. This coin was released in 2018 and is one of the higher minted coins for that year, but still relatively rare compared to many of the previous years designs.
Jemima Puddle-Duck 50p
Mintage = 2,100,000
Estimated Worth: £6.50 to £10.00
Jemima Puddle-Duck was initially the lowest minted Beatrix Potter design from the first 2 series which just added to its popularity as people sought them to complete their collections. Hence it has a higher value than some of the lower minted designs.
Mrs Tittlemouse
Mintage = 1,700,000
Estimated Worth: £3.00 to £4.00
The Mrs Tittlemouse 50 was released in 2018 as part of the final series of Beatrix Potter 50p coins. It was released with a relatively low mintage in comparison with previous mintages.
Peter Rabbit 2018 50p
Mintage = 1,400,000
Estimated Worth: £3.50 to £4.00
The rarest of all 3 Peter Rabbit designs is the one below minted in 2018. The image shows Peter enjoying what he does best, getting into mischief and raiding a vegetable patch.
Flopsy Bunny 50p
Mintage = 1,400,000
Estimated Worth: £5.00 to £6.50
Level in mintage figures with the above Peter Rabbit came that of the character of Peter’s sister Flopsy.
The last time I checked the Change Checker Scarcity Index Flopsy Bunny was one point above Peter Rabbit 2018, hence he has taken the spot for the rarest Beatrix Potter 50p coin.
Who Was Beatrix Potter?
Beatrix Potter was an author whose books are still loved by families all over the world, with many of her original stories adapted into films.
Beatrix Potter was born in West Brompton, London. She began to keep detailed journals and sketchbooks from a young age and filled them with observations of the natural world around her.
She loved to paint flowers and insects but especially loved drawing animals above all else developing a special passion for rabbits and mice.
The first book to be published by Beatrix Potter was The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902, followed by The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, The Tailor of Gloucester and several more, including many titles dedicated to characters you see on the coins above including Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Mr Jeremy Fisher.
Each of these charming tales depicted the wildlife that Beatrix saw around her in Sawrey and Near Sawrey, close to her home in Lake District. The books remain a firm favourite with children all over the world for their lively illustrations and captivating tales.
Beatrix Potter died at the age of 77 in Sawrey and her home Hill Top is now open to visitors as a museum and gallery. Fans can visit to enjoy exclusive exhibitions and view much-loved memorabilia from Beatrix’ life.
In the meantime, you and or your children can enjoy collecting the much sought after coins to complete your Beatrix Potter 50p collections.
Conclusion
I hope you found this post helpful. It certainly helps me when my kids ask about their latest find.
What’s your favourite Beatrix Potter 50p coin? Have you collected them all?
