Royal Mint releases 50-pence Beatrix Potter coins

LONDON - Britain's Royal Mint announced a series of new 50-pence coins Monday featuring favorite characters from the famous books by the children's writer Beatrix Potter.

For coin collectors the Royal Mint is offering a special set of the silver-proof coins with the fictional characters shown in color.

The color versions cost 60 pounds each ($84.2).

The first of the new coins, showing Peter Rabbit went on sale Monday on the Royal Mint's website. The others, featuring Mrs. Tittlemouse, Flopsy Bunny and the helpful mouse from the Tailor of Gloucester story, will go on sale starting in March.

Four new 50p coins featuring some of Beatrix Potter's favourite fictional characters are to be released, the Royal Mint has announced.

The new coins will form part of the Beatrix Potter coin collection which was first launched in 2016 to commemorate 150 years since the birth of Potter.

The Royal Mint, based in Wales, said the characters are created from hand-painted illustrations from Potter's books.

Anne Jessopp, the Royal Mint's newly named CEO, said the Beatrix Potter range had grown in popularity since Peter Rabbit was first introduced onto British coins in 2016.

"Since then, Peter Rabbit has been joined by a number of furry friends throughout the years. This year we are delighted to present another group of Beatrix's characters, giving them a new lease of life on our specially-designed coloured commemorative coins," said Jessopp.

The 50-pence coin, worth about 70 US cents, is one of the eight coins issued by the Royal Mint, the others valued at 1 pence, 2 pence, 5 pence, 10 pence, 20 pence, one pound and two pounds.