UK
Dumbledore joins King Charles on special 50p coin in Harry Potter-themed collection
A new coin featuring Albus Dumbledore and King Charles has been launched as part of a Harry Potter-themed collection from the Royal Mint.
The monarch’s portrait features on the “heads” of the special 50p while the Hogwarts wizard features on the other, in a collection introduced last year to celebrate the 25th publishing anniversary of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone.
Two other coins in the collection feature the late Queen.
Prices for the coin featuring Dumbledore range from £11 for an uncirculated 50p and £20 for a colour version to £5,215 for a £200 denomination gold coin.
So far, Harry Potter enthusiasts across 86 countries have bought at least one coin in the range, the Royal Mint said.
Rebecca Morgan, director of collector services, said: “The Royal Mint’s Harry Potter coin collection has seen a popular response among collectors worldwide, not only for the books being a global phenomenon, but due to the collection being one of a small number that will see a change of portrait during the series.
“The 50p coin featuring Professor Albus Dumbledore marks this change of portrait, with His Majesty King Charles III’s official coin portrait now appearing for the first time in the series.
“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 coinage.”
Some of the coins in the collection have a ‘latent feature’, which rotates in the light to reveal a lightning bolt. Pic: The Royal Mint/PA
Actor Richard Harris played Dumbledore in the film version of Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Michael Gambon took over the role in the later films following Harris’ death.
The coin is available to buy from the Mint’s website as a 50p denomination version as well as in other denominations.
While other coins in the collection feature Harry Potter himself, the Hogwarts Express, and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
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Some of the coins in the collection are in colour and some have a “latent feature”, which rotates in the light to reveal a lightning bolt and the number “25” to mark the anniversary year.
The coin series has been created in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing, the Blair Partnership and Warner Bros, Consumer Products.