Royal Mint launches Hogwarts Express 50p featuring Queen’s portrait – how to get one

HARRY Potter fans can add to their collection with a new set of coins featuring the Hogwarts Express.

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.

The first Harry Potter book was published in 1997 and sold 120million copies.

The coin will feature the image of The Hogwarts Express and the boy wizard walking alongside the train with his suitcase and owl Hedwig.

They are available in silver, gold and in colour.

A portrait of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will feature on the reverse side.

It will be the last collectable 50p coin to feature a portrait of the Queen.

The Hogwarts Express coin is the second of four coins from the Royal Mint featuring the work of Jim Kay, the artist who illustrated the first book.

The first coin revealed featured a portrait of Harry Potter and the final two will depict Albus Dumbledore and Hogwarts.

The final two coins will feature the official portrait of King Charles III.

A change of portrait during the series is a rare occasion, making this set of coins highly collectable, the Mint says.

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 can buy them directly from the Royal Mint website.

A brilliant uncirculated 50p will cost you £11, while a coloured coin will cost you £20.

But if you wanted to get your hands on a two-ounce gold-proof coin, you would have to fork out £5,215.00.

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.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint said: “The Royal Mint’s Harry Potter collection presents a unique opportunity for collectors and fans of Harry Potter across the world.

“This collection of coins serves as a permanent reminder of the fascinating transition from Britain’s longest reigning monarch to His Majesty the King’s first appearance on UK coins.”;

Jim Kay, illustrator, and designer of the Harry Potter coin collection said: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. 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.”;

It’s not the first time the Royal Mint has released coins featuring beloved children’s characters.

In August, 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.