Coin collectors have been particularly interested in the Beatrix Potter commemorative coins in recent months, with the Peter Rabbit 50p seemingly the most popular. There were an array of 50p coins released in 2016 to honour Beatrix Potter’s work, and one collectors may not see so much off is the Squirrel Nutkin 50p. But an eBay user has now listed one of these rare coins on the auction site – for a whopping £1,800. The seller’s username is rebekah*becks and they have a 100 per cent positive feedback rating, but why is this coin listed on eBay for such a high price?
The title of the listing explains the coin is of a circulated variety, but is seemingly a rare find.
“RARE Circulated Beatrix Potter Squirrel Nutkin 50p Collectable Coin 2016,” the title reads.
Royal Mint were selling an uncirculated version of the coin for £10, but it proved so popular it’s no longer available on the site.
Meanwhile, the circulated edition of the coin had a mintage of 5,000,000 when it was issued in 2016.
According to Change Checker, its scarcity index is three – meaning it’s less common.
Squirrel Nutkin was the fifth release in the Beatrix Potter commemorative coins.
The Beatrix Potter coins are considered so special because collectors across the country are keen to complete their collections.
Also in the Beatrix Potter 2016 collection is Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, Jemima Puddle-Duck, and the Beatrix Potter 150th Anniversary 50p.
The character of Squirrel Nutkin is from The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, about an impertinent red squirrel named Nutkin and his escape from an owl called Old Brown.
Engraved with an image of the squirrel designed by Emma Noble and his name printed above, the special 50p displays the iconic children’s book character in the centre of the obverse side of the coin.
The eBay seller looking for £1,800 for their coin has uploaded two images of the 50p, showing both sides to prove it’s in good condition.
With the ‘buy it now’ option switched on, the seller is also accepting offers on the coin.
The winner of the auction will have to pay £1.40 for standard delivery, meaning collectors could have it in their hands by Thursday 17 January.
Another popular coin in the Beatrix Potter collection is the Benjamin Bunny 50p – a design which was issued by the Royal Mint in 2017.
And, while it’s the shape of a 50p, this coin could be worth a different value.
In 2017, 11,300,000 of these coins were created and according to Change Checker, this means that it is fairly common, as it ranks at five on the scarcity index.
But, according to the publication Spend it? Save it? What should you do? by the publishers of Coin News Magazine, these circulated coins are actually worth more.
However, it doesn’t seem to quite be that £1,800 price tag, but instead, £4.