“Once upon a time there were four little rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-Tail and Peter” … and now one of those rabbits is on a new British Royal Mint 50p piece.
To mark 150 years since Beatrix Potter’s birth, her much loved bunny has become the very first character from children’s literature to appear on an official UK coin when it was released at the end of February this year. It’s a special coloured coin, so Peter’s blue jacket is actually blue. The original The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published in 1902.
Three more characters, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Squirrel Nutkin, will feature on further special edition coins released later in the year to complete a four-piece set.
Looking at the Royal Mint website stock of all these special coins is all but exhausted. Has anyone been lucky enough to order one?
Selected links for relevant websites, books, movies, videos, and more. Some of these links may lead to protected content on this website, learn more about that here.
Beatrix Potter The Complete Tales by Beatrix Potter
Susannah Fullerton: Beatrix Potter is born
Susannah Fullerton: The Tale of Peter Rabbit is first published
Susannah Fullerton: Once upon a time there were four little rabbits
Susannah Fullerton: An Unpublished Manuscript Surfaces
Susannah Fullerton: Literary Pets – Peter Piper the rabbit
The Beatrix Potter Society
The World of Peter Rabbit
Patricia Farrar
I will never forget being at Beatrix Potter’s house and looking across the farmyard past a green watering can, when what did I see running across the field? A little brown rabbit, his white tail bobbing underneath the fence, as he hurried home. Sadly he had already lost his blue jacket. What a delight…and right on cue!
Susannah Fullerton
It is a gorgeous garden, isn’t it. Peter deserves his own coin.
Cheryl
Peter Rabbit is a favourite of mine. Love the stories.