The second release in the Beatrix Potter 2017 Collection features Mr. Jeremy Fisher—the first time the character has appeared on an official U.K. coin. The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher, the eighth of Potter’s little tales, follows the frog in his waterproof mackintosh and galoshes through a day of fishing adventures.
Once upon a time there was a frog called Mr. Jeremy Fisher; he lived in a little damp house amongst the buttercups at the edge of a pond.
The water was all slippy-sloppy in the larder and in the back passage.
But Mr. Jeremy liked getting his feet wet; nobody ever scolded him, and he never caught a cold!
Jeremy may come home without his galoshes, or the minnows he set out to catch, but he is relieved not to end up as a trout’s dinner!
Like previous coins in the series, Mr. Jeremy Fisher is available in two versions: a Brilliant Uncirculated copper-nickel coin and a silver Proof coin with added color. The .925 sterling silver coin showcases how effective color printing can be. The tiniest details, like Jeremy’s smart jacket and shovel, have been highlighted by the technique, and enhanced by the coin’s Proof finish.
The reverse depicts Jeremy himself, in profile to the left, gripping the handle of a shovel with which he is about to dig up some worms for fishing. The legend, MR. JEREMY FISHER, reads counterclockwise from lower left around the main design. The initials en, for designer Emma Noble, appear at lower right, just below Jeremy’s elbow.
The obverse depicts the effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II as designed by Jody Clark, whose initials, J.C., appear below the base of the neck. The surrounding legend, including the date of issue, reads clockwise from the top: ELIZABETH II • DEI • GRA • REG • FID • DEF • 2017.
Denom. | Metal | Weight | Diameter | Quality | Mintage Limit |
50 pence | Copper-nickel | 8 g | 27.3 mm | Brilliant Unc. | To demand |
50 pence | .925 silver | 8 g | 27.3 mm | Proof with applied color | 30,000 |
The Proof coin comes in a clear acrylic presentation case with a booklet on the famous frog and his adventures. The BU coin is enclosed in a fold-out case with designs inspired by Potter’s watercolor illustrations, including more details about Jeremy’s tale. The coins in the Beatrix Potter 2017 Collection are endorsed by Frederick Warne & Co. (a Penguin Random House company).
For more information on these and other coins in the Beatrix Potter 2017 Collection, please visit the website of the Royal Mint. ❑
This post incorporates a press release courtesy of the Royal Mint.
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