Beatrix favourites to join coin collection
The Beatrix Potter Exhibition at Birnam Arts has welcomed a new collection of coins featuring some of the author’s bestloved characters.
The Royal Mint released the unique collection of coloured 50p coins on Monday, which feature coloured images of Peter Rabbit, Jeremy Fisher, Tom Kitten and Benjamin Bunny.
The Cumbrian author kept strong ties to Highland Perthshire throughout her life, holidaying regularly in Dalguise, near Dunkeld.
Birnam Arts exhibition manager Dave Amos said: “We’re really excited by the release of these beautiful coins - they’re absolutely stunning and we’ll be looking to include them in here as soon as possible.
“We noticed that the recent 150th anniversary of Beatrix’s birth led to a huge upsurge in interest in her work. We’re sure these wonderful coins will have a similar effect and help to preserve her incredible legacy.”
Designed by Emma Noble, 30,000 of the coins have been released into generic circulation to add to the Mint’s 2016 Beatrix Potter coin collection – which featured Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Squirrel Nutkin.
The Mint’s Anne Jessopp said: “We’re delighted to be able to present another group of her exquisite characters, giving them a new lease of life on our specially designed coloured commemorative coins.”
Beatrix Potter’s 1902 book The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which has sold more than 45m copies worldwide, is now set to become a Hollywood blockbuster next year starring James Corden and Margot Robbie.
The character Peter Rabbit was adapted from a letter the author wrote from Highland Perthshire, and is featured in the Birnam Arts’ picturesque garden.
Likewise, Jeremy Fisher, another character in the new collection, came from the author’s time near the River Tay running through nearby Dunkeld. Admiring the statues in the garden