Beatrix Potter revealed as the latest theme for 2016
2016 is already set to be an exciting year for Change Checkers with some key commemorative themes in the pipeline. But now the Royal Mint have pulled another rabbit out of their hat…
Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated more than 20 children’s books including ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit’
Peter Rabbit to be precise!
2016 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter, and a Royal Proclamation published on Friday has confirmed that one of Britain’s best-loved authors will be commemorated on two 50p coins next year.
National treasure
Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated more than 20 children’s books starring characters such as Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Benjamin Bunny. Her charming stories have captured the imagination of children for generations and earned her status as a national treasure.
Her inclusion on next year’s coins is sure to be a welcome surprise for Change Checkers, but what can we expect from the designs?
As well as declaring the specification, each Royal Proclamation also gives a description of the design of any new coin. The first, as stated in the London Gazette, will feature:
- “A silhouette of Beatrix Potter accompanied by an image of Peter Rabbit surrounded by a floral motif with the inscription “BEATRIX POTTER 1866 1943”.
- The second will use a more simplistic design: “A portrait of Peter Rabbit with the inscription “PETER RABBIT”
A first for UK coins
Never has a female literary figure been commemorated on a UK coin, so the two new Beatrix Potter 50ps are likely to be in high demand once they finally make it into circulation.
Are you happy to see Beatrix Potter commemorated on our coins next year? Let us know your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter
Edward – if the past is any indication of the future, these coins might be in circulation by mid 2017 !!!
Having just bought the proof 2016 set including commemoratives, once again more coins not in the set
Excited but also getting frustrated at the lack of availability of these new commemoratives – it’s getting to the stage where I think who cares – it’s not like we’ll ever see them in circulation or get any chance of finding them outside of buying directly from the mint.
Hi Matt, we agree that it’s frustrating that the commemorative coins are issued so late in the year. They all end up in circulation eventually, it’s just a shame that it’s so long after they are first revealed. Judging by the results of our poll, a lot of collectors feel the same:
This was confirmed days ago.
Let me know when coins come onto the market