29 Feb 2016

The Royal Mint has today announced four new additions to its Beatrix Potter range. Following the Beatrix Potter coin revealed at the turn of the year, a further set of four coins finished in full colour will be released in 2016, as part of the celebrations that mark 150 years since the author’s birth.  This is the first time that characters from children’s literature will appear on UK coinage.

The first coin to be revealed depicts the most recognisable of Potter’s creations, and one of the most cherished from children’s literature: Peter Rabbit. He will be joined by three other iconic characters as the series continues through the year.

Not wanting to lose the delicate, timeless qualities of Beatrix Potter’s original illustrations, the coins will be available in silver proof featuring a distinctive colour-printed design, bringing Peter and his famous blue jacket to life in vivid detail.

Alongside the special edition colour coins, the four designs will also be burrowing their way into people’s pockets as plain-metal circulating versions, which will be appearing in change later this year.

The task of recreating the illustrations that have brought joy to millions of children around the world fell to Royal Mint coin designer Emma Noble, who has previously worked on coins commemorating the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s coronation, Remembrance Sunday, and King George I.

Emma Noble commented: “It is amazing to be given the opportunity to work with such famous and treasured literary characters.

I wanted to put Beatrix Potter’s illustrations to the fore front of my design as they are lovely images and the characters are very well known.  I felt they were strong enough to stand alone and I designed them in this way as I thought they would work best for both the coloured commemorative and un-coloured circulating coins. I really hope people are pleased with them as a set.”

Each coin’s obverse side bears the fifth definitive portrait of The Queen by Royal Mint Engraver Jody Clark, first introduced to UK coinage in 2015.