‘Harry Potter’ Coins To Be First In UK To Have Both King Charles III & Queen
By Mikelle Leow, 21 Oct 2022
The Boy Who Lived is not only the most recognizable face in the Wizarding World, he now makes his mark in a world of Muggles via collectible coins being released by the Royal Mint.
The enchanting Harry Potter collection commemorates the 25th publishing anniversary of the J.K. Rowling series’ first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone for American readers), in the UK.
Since the official coins fronted by King Charles III will soon be due for circulation, the Harry Potter coins will be the first UK currency to showcase both the new monarch and Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen’s face will appear on the first two designs, available now; and her successor will be featured on the final two when they’re ready in 2023.
According to the Royal Mint, this collection is the first of a few that will transition with a new royal portrait midway.
The artwork of the boy wizard comes from Jim Kay, the artist who worked on the first fully-illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” reflects the illustrator. “It is the same for most aspects of publishing—because you are on your own all of the time in a studio, none of it quite seems real until you see the book on a shelf in a shop. Then you think, ‘Oh yeah! I did that!’”
“This is completely new to me though, a coin!”
The uncirculated 50p coin of Harry is priced at £11, and the color version goes for £20. Limited-edition £200 coins can go for as high as £5,215.
Upcoming designs will depict the Hogwart Express, Professor Albus Dumbledore, and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Most of the lineup will sport a spellbinding “latent feature” that reveals a lightning bolt and the number 25 when rotated under the light. The nation’s original coinmaker promises there’s a method to it, and it involves pico lasers.
“Our coins aren’t made by magic you know!” the Royal Mint emphasizes.
[via Metro.co.uk and Sky News, images via Royal Mint]