A spellbinding coin collection is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone.
The Royal Mint is releasing the special collection today (October 20). The release of a new coin featuring a full colour picture of the boy wizard marks 25 years since J K Rowling’s first book was published in the UK.
The first coin in The Royal Mint’s new Harry Potter collection, available on a range of denominations, is available for collectors and fans to buy here. The new Harry Potter coin is the first of four which feature the work of Jim Kay, the artist who created the original fully illustrated edition of The Philosopher’s Stone.
READ MORE: Royal Mint expect 'high demand' as new rare 50p coin unveiled
It is the first time The Royal Mint have reproduced colour illustrations on official UK coins and, in an enchanting twist, some of the collection also reveal a lightning bolt and the number 25 when rotated. Ffion Gwillim, The Royal Mint designer who modelled the artwork onto coins, said: “The Harry Potter illustrations are so iconic and recognisable, we wanted to faithfully recreate them on a UK coin for the first time. Working with Jim Kay, we’ve created a collection which is a fitting celebration to the original artwork and the iconic story.”
The collection is likely to be in high demand as coins will see a change in the monarch’s portrait during the series. The first two will feature the portrait of Her Late Majesty, and the final two coins will feature the official portrait of King Charles III.
Mandy Archer, from Bloomsbury Children’s Books, said: “The Royal Mint’s stunning coins are the perfect souvenir of Harry Potter’s silver anniversary! Jim Kay’s depiction of the wizarding world is unique and extraordinary – we can’t wait to see his work magically move beyond the printed page and onto this enchanting new medium.
The first coin in the Harry Potter collection is available to purchase from The Royal Mint’s website here.
READ NEXT:
