HARRY Potter fans can add to their collection with a new set of coins featuring the boy wizard.
The new 50p has been unveiled as part of a new collection celebrating 25 years since the hit book Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone was published.
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The first Harry Potter book was published in 1997 and sold 120million copies.
The coin will feature the image of the orphan sporting his famous round glasses, floppy hair and lightning scar.
It is the first of four coins from the Royal Mint featuring the work of Jim Kay, the artist who illustrated the first book.
The other coins will feature the Hogwarts Express, Albus Dumbledore and Hogwarts.
The Mint will reveal the launch date for the new coin across its social channels in the coming weeks – but collectors and Harry Potter enthusiasts can register for updates on its website.
These are uncirculated commemorative coins, so you’ll have to buy them from the Royal Mint if you want to add one to your collection.
You will be able too buy them directly from the Royal Mint when they launch.
The prices for the coins have not yet been announced, but previous commemorative coins have cost from £10 to over £1,000 for gold proof editions.
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There are several different types of coins you can buy from the Royal Mint.
Circulated coins are the ones you’ll see in your shop change.
Brilliant uncirculated coins are a higher standard than circulating and bullion coins.
The machines used to strike these coins are polished and finished by hand.
Proof coins are the highest quality coins produced by the Royal Mint and are all hand-finished.
Bullion coins are made from gold and silver and are usually used as an investment that aims to retain a certain value over time.
Some coins in the Harry Potter range also feature an enchanting “latent feature”, which rotates in the light to reveal a lightning bolt and the number 25, marking the anniversary year.
Nicola Howell, chief commercial officer, said: “As the official maker of UK coins, we are delighted to make a spellbinding coin collection to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone.
“The first coin in the collection, celebrating Harry Potter, will be available for collectors and fans to buy at the end of this month.”
Mandy Archer, editorial director at Bloomsbury Children’s Books which publishes Harry Potter, 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 on to this enchanting new medium.”
It’s not the first time the Royal Mint has released coins featuring beloved children’s characters.
Last month a coin showing Kanga and Roo from Winnie the Pooh was released.
It joined the Eeyore 50p which launched earlier this year and is part of a collection for the honey-loving bear.
Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit has also been commemorated on a £5 coin.
And it’s not just characters who appear on coins either, with David Bowie and Alan Turing among the famous faces to appear on the currency.
