eBay: ‘Rare’ Beatrix Potter Benjamin Bunny 50p coin on sale for £13K – but buyers beware

eBay has become one of the world’s most popular sites for coin collectors and enthusiasts to find unique pieces to add to their collections. The online auction site lists hundreds of allegedly ‘rare’ coins on a daily basis. One such piece is the Benjamin Bunny 50p coin, which was recently posted on the site for a shocking £13,213. Branded as ‘rare’ by the current owner, the seller, who goes by the screen name “rod-line-and-music” has generously allowed interested buyers to purchase the coin instantly through the “Buy Now Function” for £13,231.

Designed by Emma Noble, the coin features Peter Rabbit in his iconic blue jacket that became the emblem of Beatrix Potter’s work

Change Checker

However, on top of the high selling price, the current owner has asked that buyers also fork out an extra £2.00 for standard delivery. So at over 5000 times its face value, is the coin as rare as the owner is claiming? 

Designed by Emma Noble and Jody Clark, the coin in question is the “2017 Beatrix Potter Benjamin Bunny 50p Coin”, the final coin in the commemorative Beatrix Potter 2017 collection. 

The 2017 Benjamin Bunny 50p coin was issued to celebrate one of Beatrix Potter’s most loved children’s tales, “The Tale of Benjamin Bunny”. 

This is the first UK coin to feature Benjamin Bunny and it was part of the second series of 50ps which proved to be extremely popular with coin collectors in 2016, after the initial release to mark the 150th anniversary of the author’s birth.  

The eBay user “rod-line-and-music”, uploaded the commemorative coin along with two pictures of it. 

They wrote: “Get even closer to Beatrix Potter. You can buy this rare 2017 Beatrix Potter Benjamin Rabbit Bunny 50p Coin.

“This coin comes direct from Mr Mcgregor, sold to you by Mr Mcgregor.  

“Knowing you have this coin in your pocket is a great opportunity. It´s a great chance to get closer to the Beatrix Potter world – and hold a very interesting coin.”

However with a circulation mintage of 25,000,000, it is hardly considered ‘rare’, and experts warn numismatists, enthusiasts and general coin lovers to do their research before blowing tons of money on these said ‘rare’ coins. 

The Royal Mint, a government-owned mint that produces all coins for the United Kingdom has given  the “Benjamin Bunny 2017 UK 50p” coin a valuation of £10 – a far cry from it’s asking price by the seller

The coin website Change Checker revealed the coin is ranked as “one” on the scarcity index, making it fairly common.

The website states: “The Tale of Peter Rabbit’ was the first of Beatrix Potter’s tales and the mischievous character has been captured in the centre. 

“Designed by Emma Noble, the coin features Peter Rabbit in his iconic blue jacket that became the emblem of Beatrix Potter’s work.”

Experts at the coin publication, Spend It? Save It? What Should You Do?, agree that the coin is not as rare as it has been made out to be, and they have estimated a similar mintage of 19,300,000. 

What’s more, the magazine has given the coin a valuation of just £4 – a complete contrast to what the seller on eBay is asking for. 

Those hoping to get their hands on the Beatrix Potter Benjamin Bunny 50p coin and add it to their collection are better off purchasing the coin from official retailers of the coin or, or try your luck as it’s common you might very well end up with this coin after your next trip to the shop.

Which are the rarest Beatrix Potter coins?

According to Change Checker’s “Scarcity Index”; “Jemima Puddle-Duck is currently the 6th most difficult coin to find in your change,” with Squirrel Nutkin coming in close behind. 

Enthusiast can currently buy a base metal collector version of Beatrix Potter 50p coins direct from the Royal Mint for £10 and Change Checker Certified Brilliant Uncirculated versions for £3.99, rather than wait to find them in your change. 

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