Why is the Peter Rabbit 50p Exciting Great Britain?

Found a Peter Rabbit Coin in Your Change?

We're sorry to tell you your Peter Rabbit 50p (or other Beatrix Potter 50p) is worth just that - 50p.

Chances are you're on this blog because you've found a Peter Rabbit, or one of the other Beatrix Potter coins, in your change. It's certainly a good find, but unfortunately it's not going to make you rich. The coins are worth their face value and are currently selling on eBay for anywhere from a penny to £2 if you're lucky.

There were 9.6 million of the 2016 Peter Rabbit coins alone issued into circulation, so you can only imagine how many times each day we're contacted by someone who has found one in their change and wants to know how much it is worth.

Rare Half Whisker Peter Rabbit 50p

This coin is worth.... 50p. Sadly the "half whisker" being rare is a myth. The half whisker is part of the design which all 9.6 million of the 2016 coins have. Yes, you will see them being offered for huge amounts on auction sites like eBay, but they never actually sell. Rather than waste your time trying to auction the coin, you'd be better off spending it. 

Are You Looking to Buy Peter Rabbit Coins?

2018 UK Coin 50p BU Beatrix Potter - Peter Rabbit Price: £25.00 - + Add to Basket

2018 Peter Rabbit Beatrix Potter Silver Proof 50p Price: £65.00 - + Add to Basket

Why is the 2016 Peter Rabbit 50p Exciting Great Britain?

The Royal Mint have produced a collection of fifty pence coins to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Beatrix Potter. Whilst all the coins have been popular, there has been one coin in particular that Great Britain has become excited about - the Peter Rabbit 50p!

If you're wondering why, well, it's probably because the nation has listened to stories about this naughty rabbit for over 110 years and is one of Britain's most well known childhood literary characters. 

2016 Peter Rabbit Fifty Pence - Coloured Silver Proof Fifty Pence Coin

Demand Soars for Peter Rabbit 

The fifty pence is a close contender with the two pound coin as the UK's favourite coin to collect and with two versions of the 2016 Peter Rabbit fifty pence available, coin collectors all over the nation are brimming with excitement. The coins featuring the famous rabbit in his smart blue jacket have been highly sought after, with eagle eyed collectors hunting for them in their change. Demand has been so high that when the coins were first released, the Royal Mint website crashed.

How Many 2016 Peter Rabbit 50p’s Were Made?

The Royal Mint set a “Limited Edition Presentation” figure of 15,000 for each of the silver proof coloured coins. This means that no more than 15,000 of the coins in Perspex blocks have been produced. The “Limited Edition Presentation” figure shouldn’t be confused with a mintage figure. The mintage refers to the amount of the coins struck by the mint. As the Royal Mint have not officially announced a mintage figure, it means that, hypothetically, they could produce more than 15,000 of the coins and present them in different packaging.

2016 Peter Rabbit 50p Coloured Version

The demand for the coloured silver proof Peter Rabbit coin has far surpassed the other coins in the series. We sold out of our stock within days and haven’t managed to get a single coin in since. We have many people on our wishlist waiting for us to get a coin in, but demand for them has definitely exceeded supply. If you would like to be added to our wishlist, please send an email to [email protected] and we’ll add you to the list, but be warned, it could be quite a lengthy wait!

How Much is My Peter Rabbit 50p Coin Worth?

The value of the Peter Rabbit fifty pence depends on the version of the coin you have.

2016 Peter Rabbit Fifty Pence - Brilliant Uncirculated in Presentation Folder

 Whilst the BU and circulated coins are very attractive and collectible, they aren’t worth any more than their face value of fifty pence. We have noticed people trying to sell them on eBay for £20 upwards! When you bear in mind that you can buy a brand new, brilliant uncirculated version of the coin for £9, you’d be wasting money by paying over twice the amount for a circulated one!

Peter Rabbit Coins on eBay

The silver proof version is worth as much as a person is willing to pay for it. We’ve seen the silver proof coins showing up on eBay for large amounts of money – up to £600, even more for slabbed coins! A quick look has shown that recent sales have been around £375, although we will never know for certain whether the buyer actually paid and completed the sale.

Beatrix Potter Coin Series

The Beatrix Potter Coin Series features fifty pence coins which are all available in silver proof and uncirculated finishes. (The character coins are available in a coloured silver proof finish.)

• 2016 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Beatrix Potter
• 2016 Peter Rabbit
• 2016 Jemima Puddle Duck
• 2016 Mrs Tiggy Winkle
• 2016 Squirrel Nutkin
• 2017 The Tale of Peter Rabbit
• 2017 Jeremy Fisher
• 2017 Benjamin Bunny
• 2017 Tom Kitten

The coloured silver proof version of the coins incorporates a printing technology, which shows the animals in full colour. Each of the coins is beautifully presented in a Perspex block and issued with a certificate of authenticity and a colourful booklet, telling the history of the character.The brilliant uncirculated versions of the coins are not coloured. They are presented in an information folder, which opens up and contains the history of Beatrix Potter and her characters.

Beatrix Potter Coin Collection

Although we have not heard any official news, the Royal Mint could still release a complete set of the silver proof coloured coins. If they did do this, we think they would prove incredibly popular with those who missed out on the 2016 Peter Rabbit coins the first time around.

Have you heard the story of the woman who found Jesus on her Peter Rabbit fifty pence? Let us know your thoughts on the Peter Rabbit coin, if you've heard anymore funny stories about Beatrix Potter fifty pences we'd love to hear from you. 

Is My Coin Rare?

If you collect fifty pence and are wondering whether your coin is rare, read our blog Is My Fifty Pence Rare?, you could have a small fortune in your collection.