Description

In 2016, the Royal Mint released new gold, silver, and cupronickel coins honoring the 150th birthday of children’s author Beatrix Potter.

Helen Beatrix Potter (1866–1943) was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist best known for her children's books featuring animals. Potter has delighted generations of children worldwide with such unforgettable characters as Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-duck, Flops, Mopsy, and Cottontail, to name but a few. The first stories debuted in 1902 with the publication of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” Peter’s exploits with his friends and family were included in five more stories appearing from 1904 to 1912.

These stories were immensely successful, leading to one of the first-ever instances of additional merchandising when a stuffed Peter Rabbit doll and a board game were patented in 1903. In all, Beatrix Potter authored and/or illustrated thirty books; these generated a great deal of financial means which Potter utilized to buy various farms and country estates, intending to preserve and retain their original functions. For this activity, Potter is also remembered as an avid conservationist. She is credited with preserving much of the land that now constitutes the Lake District National Park.

Potter wrote about 30 books; the best known being her 24 children's tales. Potter's books continue to sell throughout the world in many languages with her stories being retold in song, film, ballet, and animation, and her life depicted in a feature film and television film.