The Royal Mint, the Original Maker of UK coins, has today announced that Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit™ will appear on their commemorative £5 crown and one-ounce coins for the very first time in a partnership secured with Penguin Random House.

Previously, Peter Rabbit and his friends have appeared on the 50p and have been one of the most popular commemorative coin collections from The Royal Mint. Now, the iconic character has hopped over to a new coin on the reverse of the £5 crown as well as silver and gold one ounce coins.

The larger surface area of the £5 crown has allowed The Royal Mint to explore the timeless narrative of The Tale of Peter Rabbit and capture more detail.

The Royal Mint’s own Ffion Gwillim created the design using original storybook illustrations, settling on an image showing the whole Rabbit family together. Speaking about the design, Ffion said, “What I really like about this particular illustration is that it has a great narrative element. As a designer I always look to tell a story, just as Beatrix Potter did in her unique and wonderful way. It was a lot of fun to revisit The Tale of Peter Rabbit. It’s such a timeless classic and Peter’s antics never get old.”

Thomas Merrington, Creative Director, Penguin Ventures (part of Penguin Random House) said, “Peter Rabbit has had an exceptional adventure with The Royal Mint over the past five years. His appearance on the £5 crown marks a new chapter for our partnership and provides an exciting opportunity to showcase Beatrix Potter’s original illustration in a creative new way”

The new commemorative coin features a charming scene of the Rabbit family from an early part of the story when Peter’s mother warns him not to get into any mischief. Capturing the warmth and charm of the original illustration, the coin is set to be key piece for collectors.

Clare Maclennan Divisional Director for Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint commented, “The £5 crown is truly a wonderful piece for collecting, with the larger surface area showcasing The Royal Mint’s abilities as designers and creators of coinage. It has also allowed us to capture the magical world of Peter Rabbit, which deserves the space to be able to tell such a timeless narrative. Peter Rabbit has been a key part of our commemorative coin journey, and we are pleased to offer him a new platform on a new denomination.”

For fans of the Peter Rabbit commemorative coins, the 2021 coin design will no doubt be a popular addition to collections, marking a new chapter for the loveable rabbit. This will be the only release featuring Peter Rabbit this year.

The coin is available as gold and silver Proof editions, as well as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition, available from The Royal Mint. Please visit royalmint.com/peter-rabbit to view the full commemorative coin range. The coin will not be going into general circulation.

Tale of Peter Rabbit Coin Specifications

Coin title	The Tale of Peter Rabbit 2021 UK £5 Brilliant Uncirculated Coin	The Tale of Peter Rabbit 2021 UK One Ounce Silver Proof Coin	The Tale of Peter Rabbit 2021 UK One Ounce Gold Proof Coin
Denomination	£5	£2	£100
Issuing Authority	UK	UK	UK
Alloy	Cupro-Nickel	999 Ag Fine Silver	999.9 Au Fine Gold
Weight	28.28g	31.21g	31.21g
Diameter	38.61mm	38.61mm	32.69mm
Obverse Designer	Jody Clark	Jody Clark	Jody Clark
Reverse Designer	Ffion Gwillim	Ffion Gwillim	Ffion Gwillim
Quality	Brilliant Uncirculated	Proof	Proof
Additional Features	N/A	N/A	N/A
Limited Edition Presentation	Unlimited	5000	250
RRP	£13.00	£95.00	£2,315

Celebrating 1,150 years since one of the most influential monarchs in British history was made King, The Royal Mint has today announced the launch of a commemorative coin collection honouring the life and work of Alfred the Great. The launch of the new commemorative coin comes just weeks after The Royal Mint’s Collector Services division sold an original Alfred The Great Silver Monogram Penny (871-899) for an impressive £18,700.

The coins of Alfred’s reign were one of the first to state exactly where the coin was minted, in London, and are regarded as particularly significant in the history of The Royal Mint.

Alfred (849-899), king of the West Saxons, was one of the great rulers in English history and the only English ruler called ‘Great’. He came to the throne facing Viking invasions but recovered to win the Battle of Ethandune, in Wiltshire, and force his enemies to sign the peace of Wedmore (878). To defend his kingdom, Alfred built fortified towns, strengthened local militias, and created England’s first navy. His unifying reign demonstrated military skill, far-sighted reform, piety and wisdom, which built the foundations for the modern monarchy of today.

Experienced coinage artist, John Bergdahl, has created an original design that features across the beautiful, accessible range of gold and silver commemorative coins for those remembering Alfred’s life and work this year. He took his inspiration from a precious artefact that embodies the monarch’s enlightenment and passion for education – the Alfred Jewel.

The Jewel, which came to light in 1693 having been ploughed up in a field in Somerset, features a portrait of Alfred which has been replicated onto the face of the new coins. It represents the pinnacle of Anglo-Saxon technological achievement, while the name of the monarch which it proclaims places it among the most precious of royal relics.

On the coin’s edge there is an inscription ‘AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN’ which translates to ‘Alfred ordered me to be made’ taken from the etching on the Jewel.

John worked to ensure the coin was closest to the original Monogram Penny of Alfred the Great (871-899) and used ‘punch lettering’ to reflect the style of the period.

Rebecca Morgan, Divisional Director of Collector Services, said: “As the Original Makers of the Monogram Penny, we knew we had to remember this milestone anniversary. Alfred’s reign not only provided the British with strong leadership, but he also appreciated art and beauty, leaving us exquisite artefacts to draw inspiration from. From the sale of the historic penny to the launch of the new collection, we anticipate the design will be popular amongst our collectors.

“At The Royal Mint we believe Britain’s greats must be remembered to ensure our country’s rich history lives on. We work alongside phenomenal designers such as John to create modern-day collections that pay homage to the past, to enable the nation to celebrate the legacy of inspired historic figures, such as Alfred the Great.”

The Brilliant Uncirculated variation in the commemorative coin collection is packaged alongside a timeline of Alfred’s life – pictures and text educate on the various triumphs and downfalls he faced, making the product a perfect gift for those fascinated by our history.

The Alfred the Great coin collection is available to purchase via The Royal Mint website today in Brilliant Uncirculated, Gold Proof and Silver Proof variations with prices ranging from £13.00-£2,590.00.

To find out more, visit: https://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/alfred-the-great/

Coin Specifications

Gold Proof	Silver Proof	Silver Proof	Brilliant Uncirculated
Alfred the Great UK £5 Gold Proof Coin Price: £2,590.00 Code: UK21AGGP LEP: 160 MCM: 170	Alfred the Great £5 Silver Piedfort Proof Price: £167.50 Code: UK21AGPF LEP: 900 MCM: 910	Alfred the Great UK £5 Silver Proof Coin Price: £90.00 Code: UK21AGSP LEP: 2,250 MCM: 2,260	Alfred the Great UK £5 BU Coin Price: £13.00 Code: UK21AGBU LEP: Unlimited MCM: Unlimited

79th Edition Compiles Wholesale Values of All U.S. Coins

(Pelham, Alabama) — Whitman Publishing announces the upcoming release of the 2022 (79th edition) Handbook of United States Coins, popularly known as the “Blue Book.” The 304-page book will debut May 10, 2021, in hardcover and softcover formats, available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide. In the meantime, it is available for preorder (including at www.Whitman.com and online bookstores).

The Blue Book, a guide to wholesale coin values, was started by R.S. Yeoman in 1942 as a groundbreaking resource for collectors. With the Blue Book, for the first time ever hobbyists had an impartial, research-driven annual guide to tell how much the typical dealer would pay them for their U.S. coins. It also gave dealers a handy one-stop reference for making buy offers.

The Blue Book Defined

As the Blue Book nears its eightieth anniversary, collectors and dealers continue to find it a valuable yearly measure of wholesale coin values. Senior Editor Jeff Garrett and Research Editor Q. David Bowers carry on the work started by Yeoman, with retired Editor Emeritus Kenneth Bressett giving an annual overview of the process. More than 100 leading professional coin dealers, numismatic researchers, and organizations contributed their numismatic knowledge and market analysis to the 79th edition.

New coin collectors sometimes ask, “What’s the difference between the Blue Book and the Red Book?” The main answer is simple: The Blue Book lists wholesale prices many coin dealers will pay for collector coins; the Red Book (officially titled the Guide Book of United States Coins) lists retail prices that a collector can expect to pay for the same coins.

Since 1942 the Blue Book has helped millions of people who have inherited coin collections, have coins to sell or trade, or are actively engaged in collecting. The popular method of collecting coins by date and mintmark has created a market of changing values, based on supply and demand. The Blue Book, through its panel of contributors, reports on these changing values. It also serves as a source of general numismatic information for all levels of interest in the hobby.

New Features in This Year’s Blue Book

The 79th edition of the Blue Book (with a 2022 cover date) features the modern, updated layout of recent years, improved black-and-white photographs, the latest data and information from the United States Mint, and a 16-page full-color chapter on how to sell coins you’ve inherited. This feature section tells how to examine, identify, and sort coins in a collection or accumulation; create an inventory; determine grades and values; and find a reputable buyer. It includes illustrated case studies on grading coins; tips on selling at coin shows, through the mail, and by auction; guidance on silver and gold bullion values; and advice from professional numismatists.

Published in convenient softcover and library-quality hardcover on high-quality paper, the 79th (2022) edition Blue Book has a retail price of $12.95 (softcover) or $14.95 (hardcover).

(Pelham, Alabama) — Whitman Publishing announces the upcoming release of A Penny Saved: R.S. Yeoman and His Remarkable Red Book, by Kenneth Bressett. The 352-page hardcover volume will debut in summer 2021, available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide. In the meantime, it is available for preorder (including at www.Whitman.com and online bookstores).

The hobby’s popular “Red Book”—officially titled A Guide Book of United States Coins—is celebrating its 75th edition this year. In A Penny Saved, the Red Book’s editor emeritus, Kenneth Bressett, presents a history of the groundbreaking book and a biography of author R.S. Yeoman, who helped ignite a boom in coin-collecting starting in the 1930s and 1940s by promoting innovations including coin boards, folders, and new books. He tells the story of publishing giant Western Printing & Lithographing Company and follows the development of its offshoot, Whitman Publishing, from 1916 to today. Bressett, who worked alongside Yeoman, also shares his own life story in and out of numismatics. Both men have left indelible imprints on the hobby and on publishing in the United States.

Collectors have used the Red Book for generations, relying on its accurate and up-to-date coin prices, mintage data, photographs, technical specifications, and historical information. It is one of the most popular nonfiction books in the history of American publishing, with more than 25 million copies sold since the first edition debuted in 1946.

The Red Book revolutionized coin collecting by presenting, for the first time, an impartial, professional catalog of average prices dealers were charging for every U.S. coin. It made the hobby accessible to people of all ages, interests, and budgets.

In A Penny Saved, Ken Bressett has compiled never-before-released documents from the Whitman Publishing archives. He also shares a treasure trove of family photos, corporate memorabilia, and personal recollections about the Red Book and the coin dealers, collectors, researchers, and others who have made it so remarkable.

The book’s title derives from Benjamin Franklin’s famous aphorism “A penny saved is a penny got.” It also reflects Yeoman’s story of his first coin board, which he created in 1916 with a jackknife and a piece of cardboard to save an 1894 Indian Head cent he had earned on his newspaper route for the Evening Wisconsin. Twenty years later, during the Great Depression, Yeoman would help launch numismatics into a national craze by marketing and selling cardboard holders for sets of coins collected from pocket change.