You can now get a set of rare Peter Pan 50p coins – here's how
A set of commemorative Peter Pan 50p coins has been made available on the Isle of Man, the first time The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up has even appeared in monetary form.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe six coins are being released to coincide with the 90th anniversary of Peter Pan author, JM Barrie, gifting the rights to the story to Great Ormond Street Hospital, a gesture which continues to benefit the charity to this day.
"For every coin sold a donation will go directly to GOSH Charity to support the hospital’s most urgent needs," said The Westminster Collection, "funding support services, pioneering research, equipment and refurbishment.”
Demand for the coins is high, and when we first logged on to the Westminster Collection website for more details, we were placed in a virtual queue of around 200 other users.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWhat do they look like?
The new Peter Pan 50p features an engraving of David Wyatt’s illustration from the Oxford University Press edition of Peter Pan, alongside a well-known quote from the book, "Second to the right and straight on till morning."
The coins feature David Wyatt illustrations of favourite characters alongside famous quotes from the book (Image: The Westminster Collection)
The other five coins in the collection feature David Wyatt’s illustrations of other favourite characters - Captain Hook, Tick-Tock the Crocodile, Tinkerbell, Wendy and Nana - alongside other famous quotes.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHow much could they be worth?
With coin collecting on the rise, commemorative coins such as these can go on to become worth much more than their face values, with enthusiasts willing to pay a premium to add them to their collection.
What that price is depends on how many coins were made in the first place, and the mintage figures of new commemorative coins are not usually known until well after the coin’s release.
In this case though, we know that 15,000 of each design will be struck, a total of 30,000 new coins.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWhile it's not confirmed how many of the coins have been struck, new coins in British Isles territories are usually struck in smaller numbers, due to the much smaller populations there.
The Isle of Man recently saw a set of 50p coins released to celebrate the Cricket World Cup (Image: The Westminster Collection)
For example, 12,500 of each of the recent Cricket World Cup 50 pences were be struck, a total of 62,500 new coins.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdComparing that to the known mintage figures of the ‘mainland’ commemorative coins, we can see that this makes each of those coins massively scarcer than the infamous 2009 Kew Gardens coin, currently the rarest 50p in circulation with only 210,000 minted.
A rare silver Kew Gardens 50p coin sold for £400 at auction in 2018 – an impressive 800 times its face value, though the ‘standard’ coins are still high in demand; they can sell for up to £160 on eBay.
How do I get one?
Unless you live on the Isle of Man, it might be tricky to get your hands on one of the new coins if you’re hoping to have one turn up in your change.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSince they are technically not legal tender in other parts of the UK, it’s unlikely many will be floating about.
However, you can order a set of the coins from The Westminster Collection, which come housed in special packaging, ensuring they are protected for years to come.
The set of all six is available for £37.50 plus postage and packing, and a sell out is expected.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdA Silver Proof version of the set was also available, with the coins having been struck in Sterling Silver, and featuring full-colour illustrations, though this appears to have sold out.
You can also get the Peter Pan coin struck onto 22 carat gold, and only 500 of these valuable coins will be made available.
Despite an asking price of £995 plus postage and packing, they're expected to sell out very quickly.
For every single coin sold, 50p will be donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.
This story first appeared on our sister site, inews