Add a very rare Beatrix Potter coin to your collection. Or, give it as a very special gift to start a child’s collection or to celebrate their birth or baptism.
This very special and rare 50p coin is part of a beloved series featuring characters from Beatrix Potter’s children’s books. This coin features Peter Rabbit’s sister and Benjamin Bunny’s wife, Flopsy Bunny.
How Much is the Flopsy Bunny 50p Coin Worth?
The Flopsy Bunny coin was released in 2018 as the third instalment of the Beatrix Potter series. It is the first coin ever to feature Flopsy Bunny. The 2018 coin sells for an average sale price on eBay of £5.55.
Finish your collection by adding to a series of the Royal Mint coins that were first minted in 2016 to celebrate Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday. Since the series was so popular, it continued for a few more years including the 2018 coins of which this one is the only official UK coin featuring Flopsy Bunny.
Is the Flopsy Bunny 50p Coin Rare?
Some consider the Flopsy Bunny to be one of the rarest in the 2018 Beatrix Potter collection. Some coin specialists have ranked the Flopsy Bunny coin to be one of the scarcest non-Olympic 50p coin after the 2009 Kew Gardens which is considered the rarest. The 2018 coin has a mintage of 1,400,000.
Additionally, the coin was minted in:
- Brilliant Uncirculated in card with 29,929 issued
- Silver Proof FDC featuring a colourful rabbit donned in red cape.
The Silver Proof FDC version issued 38,744 in 0.925 silver. This coin was made available as a Silver Proof Coin, a Silver WOBP Exclusive, a Silver LDE Exclusive, a Silver POL Exclusive, a Flopsy Bunny Silver in Acrylics Trace, and also in a coin and book gift set entitled Celebrating Beatrix Potter and Her Little Tales – Peter Rabbit and Friends.
Design and Meaning Behind the Flopsy Bunny 50p
The coin is part of the 50 pence design with a 7-sided shape that forms an equilateral curve heptagon. The shape is sometimes called a Reuleaux polygon which is a curve of constant width leaving the diameter of the coin with a consistent measurement regardless of the bisection you measure. As the name implies, the face value of the coin is worth 0.50 pound sterling.
In addition to the standard 50p designs, several reverse designs have been minted on the 50p coin to commemorate important events.
The 2018 Flopsy Bunny coin was designed to celebrate the Beatrix Potter character, Flopsy Bunny from the children’s book entitled The Tale of Flopsy Bunny.
The 2018 50p is part of those designed as a special commemorative coin. This one was put into circulation and marked 2018. It consists of a Cupro-nickel alloy with an 8.00 g weight, a diameter of 27.3 mm, and it is 1.78 mm thick.
The Obverse design is that of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Jody Clark. At the age of 33, Jody Clark was the youngest person to design the monarch’s profile on this currency. Jody Clark was also the first Royal Mint employee to design a UK definitive coin portrait in more than 100 years. He had only been working at The Royal Mint for about two years prior. The new design would be the first time her portrait had been changed in 17 years.
Jody Clark’s design was unveiled in 2015 as the fifth definitive coinage portrait of Her Majesty and the fourth portrait of The Queen in circulation. This designer introduced elements of personality giving the Queen a hint of a smile. Jody Clark wanted to create a more positive look on the Queen. He had examined several sculptures of The Queen before deciding on the warm expression.
In this version, her mature head is crowned and facing right with her coronation crown. Surrounding her head are the words 50 PENCE * 2018 * ELIZABETH II * D * G * REG * F * D * WHICH MEANS THE Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.
The designer’s initials, JC, are seen just below the Queen’s neckline.
The edge of the coin is plain with no inscription.
The reverse features an image of Flopsy Bunny wearing her cape. The bunny is the focal point with the word FLOPSY slightly curved appearing off to the upper left of the bunny, and the word BUNNY off to the upper right. Look closely at the bottom of the cape, and you will see the initials EN which is those of the designer.
The Reverse image is designed by Emma Noble. Emma Noble had designed the 2015 coins to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter. When the Royal Mint issued additional Beatrix Potter coins in 2016, Emma Noble was again chosen to design them. Her designs were once again seen on 2017 and 2018 coins, including the Flopsy Bunny coin. Her designs were also featured on the 2019 collector edition Peter Rabbit coin.
Emma Noble had worked at the Royal Mint for 20 years before she was chosen to design the Beatrix Potter series of coins. She had previously worked on pieces commemorating the Diamond Jubilee and Remembrance Sunday.
Who Was Beatrix Potter?
Though she had no children of her own, Beatrix Potter was a famous writer of children’s books. Her famous books included a much-loved character named Peter Rabbit. She also had a love for science, land preservation, and watercolour painting. Her full name was Helen Beatrix Potter.
In the 1890s, she and her brother started printing Christmas cards using their own designs. Many of the cards featured mice and rabbits. In 1890, a printing firm bought several of her drawings of a rabbit she had dubbed Benjamin Bunny to illustrate verses in A Happy Pair. After seeing how successful her drawings were, she decided to publish her own illustrations and stories. She had written letters to her governess’ child and came up with a story about four rabbits named Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter. In 1900, she revised this story to the tales that made her famous.
Before she married later in life at the age of 47, this author self-published her first of thirty books in 1902. Peter Rabbit had a sister named Flopsy Bunny who was introduced later.
Flopsy Bunny is Peter Rabbit’s sister. She is also Benjamin Bunny’s wife. Flopsy and Benjamin were introduced in the story, The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies where Flopsy and Benjamin’s six children get caught by Mr. McGregor after they fall asleep in his garden.
Where Can You Buy The 2018 Flopsy Bunny 50p?
One of the fastest and easiest ways to shop for coins is online. The Flopsy Bunny 50p coin worth is reflected by the average selling price on eBay of £5.55 for this specific profile. Of course, the actual price will depend largely on the condition the coin is in.
