Home 50p Coins Benjamin Bunny 50p

Benjamin Bunny 50p

by Simon Barker

benjamin bunny 50p

Information
  • Circulation: 25,000,000
  • Year issued: 2017
  • Value circulated: 50p
  • Value circulated in excellent condition: £2.00
  • Value uncirculated: £8.00
  • Composition: cupro-nickel
  • Scarcity index: 1

In 2016 a set of Beatrix Potter 50p coins was released to commemorate the anniversary of her birth. More sets were released in the following years and the Benjamin Bunny 50p is one of the popular coins in the set. The coin is a lovely reminder of childhood and can be collected with a view to getting the whole set.

History of the coin

The 50p coin was the first 7 sided coin. Minted in1969, it was designed to replace the 10 shilling note when decimalisation was introduced in 1971. It was also the largest coin in circulation until a smaller coin was introduced in 1997.

The first set of Beatrix Potter 50ps was minted in 2016 with further sets in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The collection features all of her well-known characters, which is one reason why this is such a popular set.

Beatrix Potter drew the original illustrations for her books when she spent time in the Lake District. She based her stories on the people and animals that she saw around her and grew to love the countryside and nature.

About Benjamin Bunny

The Tale of Benjamin Bunny was first published in 1904 as a follow up to the Tale of Peter Rabbit.

In this story Benjamin gets together with his cousin Peter. They go in to Mr McGregor’s garden to find their clothes and they find some on a scarecrow. Remembering his previous visit, Peter is keen to leave the garden but Benjamin picks some onions for his aunt and then wanders around the garden.

They see a cat and decide to hide under a basket. The cat then sits on the basket, trapping them inside. Luckily Benjamin’s father comes to find them and chases the cat in to the greenhouse. He punishes them both but Peter’s mother forgives him when he gives her the onions.

Mr McGregor, however, is left wondering where the clothes went from the scarecrow and how his cat got locked in the greenhouse.

As with her other books, the original illustrations were her own and these were based on the gardens around the Lake District where she spent a lot of her time.

How Many Benjamin Bunny 50p Coins Were Made?

The Benjamin Bunny 50p was produced in 2017 as part of a 2nd issue of the Beatrix Potter collection. Approximately 25 million of these coins were circulated.

Design and Designer

  • Front design:

The front of the 50p depicts Benjamin Bunny. He is wearing his jacket and large Tam o’ Shanter. The words ‘ Benjamin Bunny’ appear on either side of him

  • Obverse design:

Jody Clark’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the 5th portrait.

  • Designer: Emma Noble

Royal Mint designer Emma Noble is behind all the designs on the Beatrix Potter 50p coins.

She is a designer and engraver and she first sketches out her designs. She then selects the one which will look best on a coin and uses her engraving skills to give it a lifelike effect.

She has designed other coins, including the £5 coins commemorating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Remembrance Sunday.

Variations

The Benjamin Bunny 50p was released as part of the 2nd collection of Beatrix Potter 50ps and 25 million were put in to circulation.

  • Brilliant Uncirculated coins are still available
  • Limited Issue Silver Proof coins were also minted in a presentation box.
  • Silver proof coins with a colour illustration were sold.

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