Royal Mint's Beloved Character Coins Drive Demand and Collecting Fever
The Royal Mint has released a series of popular 50p coins featuring beloved children's characters and iconic stories. These collectibles have sparked interest and driven demand, with many coins removed from circulation by collectors.
The Paddington 50ps series, issued in 2018 and 2019, showcases the lovable bear at iconic London landmarks. Meanwhile, the Olympic 50ps, released in 2011, holds the record for most commemorative coin designs in circulation, featuring 29 coins representing different sports. The series has been so popular that estimates suggest 75% have been removed from circulation by collectors.
The Winnie the Pooh 50p collection, released in 2020, and the Beatrix Potter 50ps, issued between 2016 and 2018, have also been highly sought after. The latter series features 13 coins depicting beloved characters from Beatrix Potter's tales. The Snowman™ 50ps series, started in 2018, currently has 7 coins, with the latest one issued in 2022, showcasing iconic scenes from Raymond Briggs' tale.
Rarity and low mintage figures have driven demand for certain coins. The 2018 Paddington at the Station 50p, with only 5,000,001 in circulation, is the rarest of its series. Similarly, the Flopsy Bunny 50p and the 2018 Peter Rabbit 50p, each with a mintage of 1,400,000, are the rarest Beatrix Potter 50ps.
The latest addition to the popular collector coins is the Britannia 1 ounce silver coin for 2026, featuring King Charles III on the front and the figure of Britannia on the back. These collectible 50ps have not only sparked interest in coin collecting but have also become sought-after keepsakes for many.
