Harry Potter 50p pieces will be last to feature Queen Elizabeth II
Harry Potter and the very special royal coin set: Collectable 50p pieces will be last to feature Queen Elizabeth II
- Harry Potter themed coins featuring Hogwarts Express launched by Royal Mint
- The collectable coin is the final 50p to have Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait on it
- Part of a collection celebrating 25 years since first Harry Potter book came out
- Also coins featuring Harry Potter, Professor Dumbledore and Hogwarts castle
Harry Potter themed coins featuring the Hogwarts Express have been launched by the Royal Mint.
The collectable coin is also the final 50p piece to have Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait appear on the obverse side.
It forms part of a collection celebrating 25 years since Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling was first published in the UK in 1997.
As well as the Hogwarts Express, coins feature Harry Potter, Professor Dumbledore and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The first two coins feature the portrait of the late Queen, the final two the King.
The Harry Potter collection will be one of a small number that will have a change of portrait during the series, the Mint said.
Harry Potter themed coins featuring the Hogwarts Express have been launched by the Royal Mint
The collectable coin is also the final 50p piece to have Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait appear on the obverse side
The Royal Mint said: ‘A change in portrait makes this collection a highly sought after one.’
Rebecca Morgan, director of collector services at the Royal Mint said: ‘For 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait has appeared on every official UK coin struck by the Royal Mint.
‘This collection of coins serves as a permanent reminder of the fascinating transition from Britain’s longest reigning monarch to His Majesty the King’s first appearance on UK coins.’
Combining traditional minting techniques with technology, Jim Kay’s illustrations have been reproduced in colour on some of the coins. Many of the coins in the range also feature a ‘latent feature’ which rotates in the light to reveal a lightning bolt and the number ’25’ to mark the anniversary year.
A laser was used by The Royal Mint to imprint the intricate design onto coin making tools to ensure accuracy.
Prices for the Hogwarts Express coins range from £11 for a brilliant uncirculated 50p denomination version to £5,215 for a £200 denomination gold coin.
Combining traditional minting techniques with technology, Jim Kay’s illustrations have been reproduced in colour on some of the coins
As well as the Hogwarts Express, coins feature Harry Potter (pictured), Professor Dumbledore and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The coin series has been created in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing, The Blair Partnership and Warner Bros, Consumer Products.
Mandy Archer, editorial director at Bloomsbury Children’s Books said: ‘We are delighted to see the latest coin in the Royal Mint’s Harry Potter collection.
‘Jim Kay’s evocation of the Hogwarts Express instantly whisks you away to platform nine and three-quarters – the very start of Harry’s magical journey.
‘It’s a joy to see his stunning book illustration so skillfully and beautifully rendered on a new silver anniversary coin.’
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