Blog Home
UK 50p inspired by Jim Kay’s illustrations of Harry Potter
A brand new collection of UK 50p coins is now available, celebrating 25 years since the first publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Since 1997, more than half a billion Harry Potter books have been sold. That means one in fifteen people in the world owns a Harry Potter book.
25 years on, the Harry Potter books continue to evolve. Most significantly, with newer illustrations by renowned artists, like Jim Kay.
Bringing magic to the page
Jim Kay is thought to have worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week on his reimagined illustrations of Harry Potter and the Wizarding World.
Jim Kay is the star of Bloomsbury’s latest editions and his illustrations can be seen in books 1-5.
From left to right: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire and The Order of the Phoenix.
Speaking to The British Library, Kay said the commission of all seven illustrated Harry Potter books is the “most frightening” an artist could get.
When creating his illustrations for these books, Kay describes wanting to “give people something to discover on each reading”.
His illustrations take inspiration from museums, libraries, National Trust properties, and everything in between.
Drawing the Boy Who Lived
Jim Kay admits that the hardest thing to visualise in the whole project is Harry himself.
Sticking to the origins of the famous character, his drawings of the Boy Who Lived show a young boy, with as he describes, “an unusual face”.
2022 UK Harry Potter 50p
Jim Kay says seeing his illustrations on large scale print still fills him with fear. But, we’re sure he is delighted to see his drawings brought to life on the UK 50p for the first time.
The brand new collection of 50p coins is made up of four coins, starting with Harry Potter..
The first coin in the series is now available to order, with the remaining coins also available to pre-order.
Click here to add the Harry Potter 50p to your collection >>
Check out these NEW Spooky Dracula 50ps – with one Sell-Out already!
Published in 1897, Dracula has become one of the most famous pieces of English literature in history, having been adapted for film over 30 times alongside plays, television, video games and animation. It has been translated into 44 languages and sold millions of copies around the world.
And now, Bram Stoker’s famous novel has been brought to life on FIVE Brand New Coins to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of its publication!
Authorised by Gibraltar, the five 50p coins feature a werewolf, a vampire bat, a coffin, Dracula’s castle and of course, Dracula himself. Each 50p design is further detailed with a quote inspired by the novel.
So, let’s take a closer look at some of our favourite specifications of the BRAND NEW 50ps!
But you must hurry – we’ve already had a sell-out…
The Dracula BU Colour 50p Set
OVER 90% SOLD
Strictly limited to JUST 995 worldwide, this set features the FIVE new Dracula 50p coins all in Brilliant Uncirculated quality – and with the addition of vivid COLOUR!
What’s more, your 50ps arrive housed in a unique COFFIN box, meaning they’ll be safely stored inside for years to come.
Click here for more details >>
The Dracula Silver 50p Set
There’s a good reason why this Dracula Silver 50p Set has a tiny edition limit of JUST 200 available worldwide…
An extremely unique variation of the classic 50p, each of the five 50ps included are struck from .925 Silver to a DARK PROOF finish, perfectly fitting for Dracula.
Arriving protectively housed in a deluxe presentation box, this spooky Dark Proof finish is sure to set it apart in your collection.
Click here for more details >>
The Dracula Ultimate BU Cover
The Dracula Ultimate BU Cover features all five Dracula 50p coins, paired alongside a specially commissioned Dracula philatelic label.
But that’s not all. Officially postmarked by Royal Mail on Halloween – 31st October 2022 – JUST 495 will ever exist worldwide. No more of these one-day-only postmarked covers can ever be produced.
Struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality, the combination of all five coins, the stamps, the stunning artwork and the small edition limit makes this a truly ultimate presentation.
Click here for more details >>
The Dracula ‘First Strike’ Silver 50p Set
SOLD OUT
JUST 50 collectors managed to get their hands on the ‘First Strike’ Silver Proof 50p Set.
Exclusively presented in a luxury wooden Presentation Box, each of the five Dracula 50ps arrive preserved in capsules – but it’s also now completely SOLD OUT.
Did you miss out? Not to worry, there’s still time to own all five Silver ‘DARK PROOF’ 50ps here >>
With prices starting from JUST £6.99, you can discover all the brand new products in the Dracula 125th anniversary range here. Including the BU coin and BU coin set, there really is something for every collector on this significant anniversary.
Own the 1874 Churchill Birth Year Sovereign
Picture the scene: it’s October 1st, 1939; exactly one month since Hitler invaded Poland. Britain and France have just declared War against Germany. You gather your family in front of the television as Churchill prepares to deliver his first wartime broadcast…
In 1939 Britain, 83 years ago, this was the reality for more than half of the adult population. The onset of War provoked extreme economic, social and cultural demises which were navigated by the legendary British wartime Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill.
Sir Winston Churchill
Born on 30th November, 1874, Churchill became one of the greatest Britons our country has ever seen. After being elevated to Prime Minister in 1939 following Chamberlain’s resignation, he was given the unmatched task of leading the country through the most challenging battle it had ever seen: World War Two.
Despite openly disliking the recently created BBC for its infrequent broadcasts and previous decisions to defy the government, Churchill sat before a BBC camera and microphone on October 1st 1939 for the first time to prepare the nation for a long conflict with Germany.
And not only are we marking this anniversary with a special product, but we are also preparing for Churchill artefacts to skyrocket as the year 2024 signposts 150 years since he was born…
The 1874 Victoria Young Head Sovereign
Sovereigns, the flagship of every coin collection, are the perfect way to mark an exceptional figure, anniversary, or cultural moment. So, what better way to beat the crowds and prepare for the 150th anniversary of his birth than with the 1874 Victoria Young Head Sovereign…? The pinnacle coin from the year Churchill was born!
The Sovereign not only originates from the birth year of Winston Churchill, but also from a time when these coins were used in circulation. This means your 1874 Victoria Young Head Sovereign could have been passed through the hands of many wartime heroes, including Churchill himself…
The Sovereign that Survived Two World Wars
You can preserve Churchill’s inspiring legacy with the Sovereign that has transcended from the year of his birth through two world wars! Marked by an exclusive certificate of authenticity to preserve the event and his incredible legacy, this is arguably the most limited way to own the already scarce 1874 Sovereign.
In fact, there is one more thing to remember that makes them even more scarce…
In 1914, the government attempted to reclaim all Sovereigns and use the precious metals of Gold coins to pay off its international debt. This means that your coin will be one of the few remaining to exist nearly 150 years after it was produced.
Extremely Limited… Only 25 Available!
However, we have only been able to source 25 of the 1874 Victoria Young Head Sovereigns! And considering how difficult these Sovereigns are already to source, demand is expected to skyrocket as we fast approach the 150th anniversary of Churchill’s birth.
So, with just 25 of these incredibly rare, historically rich Sovereigns available, you must act now if you want to mark a momentous piece of British history with your collection.