The Tale of Benjamin Bunny: The original and authorized edition: 4 (Beatrix Potter Originals)

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A gig was coming along the road; it was driven by Mr. McGregor, and beside him sat Mrs. McGregor in her best bonnet. The cat looked up and saw old Mr. Benjamin Bunny prancing along the top of the wall of the upper terrace. Peter Rabbit's cousin, Benjamin Bunny, has been a very popular character since this book's first publication in 1904. In this tale, we hear all about his and Peter's adventures in Mr. McGregor's vegetable garden, and what happens to them when they meet a cat! And perhaps even more frightening, what happens to the two cheeky bunnies when Old Mr. Benjamin Bunny finds out what they have been up to!

This experience sparked Potter’s lifelong interest in the natural world and formed the basis for her love of animals and the countryside that shone through her novels. Where can you buy the coin? A common misconception is that there is more than one commemorative coin portraying Benjamin Bunny, but this is simply not the case. This is likely due to other Beatrix Potter 50p coins that feature very similar characters, like the 2018 Peter Rabbit 50p or the 2018 Flopsy Bunny 50p coins. Aside from the standard Brittania and Royal Shield 50p’s (first put into circulation in 2008, to replace the Britannia design), the 2017 Benjamin Bunny 50p is the most common commemorative 50p coin in circulation in Britain today, with a mintage of over double that of the next rarest coin – the 2006 VC award, of which 12 million were produced. Little Benjamin took one look, and then, in half a minute less than no time, he hid himself and Peter and the onions underneath a large basket….

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We can squeeze in under the gate,’ whispered Peter. ‘But that would spoil my clothes,’ protested Benjamin. ‘Let’s climb down that pear tree instead.’ PETER replied—"The scarecrow in Mr. McGregor's garden," and described how he had been chased about the garden, and had dropped his shoes and coat. In her thirties, Potter published the highly successful children's book The Tale of Peter Rabbit and became secretly engaged to her publisher, Norman Warne, causing a breach with her parents, who disapproved of his social status. Warne died before the wedding. They got amongst flower-pots, and frames, and tubs. Peter heard noises worse than ever; his eyes were as big as lolly-pops!

The coin was designed by Royal Mint employee Emma Noble. For the entire Beatrix Potter series, Noble worked from the author’s original watercolour illustrations of her characters. Potter herself was a skilled painter and the Royal Mint took great care to replicate the character and subtle complexity of the original work. It looked as though some person had been walking all over the garden in a pair of clogs—only the foot-marks were too ridiculously little! Peter’s coat and shoes were plainly to be seen upon the scarecrow, topped with an old tam-o’-shanter of Mr. McGregor’s. They went away hand in hand, and got upon the flat top of the wall at the bottom of the wood. From here they looked down into Mr. McGregor’s garden.

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Old Mrs. Rabbit was a widow; she earned her living by knitting rabbit-wool mittens and muffatees (I once bought a pair at a bazaar). She also sold herbs, and rosemary tea, and rabbit-tobacco (which is what we call lavender). Among the little books that have become as much a manifestation of autumn as falling leaves, one looks first for whatever Miss Beatrix Potter gives... In her new book... although there is no diminution in the charm and drollery of the drawings, Miss Potter's fancy is not what it was. The story is inconclusive. Next year we think she must call in a literary assistant. We have no hesitation in calling her pencil perfect. [1]

Little Benjamin sat down beside his cousin and assured him that Mr. McGregor had gone out in a gig, and Mrs. McGregor also; and certainly for the day, because she was wearing her best bonnet. When Mr. McGregor returned about half an hour later he observed several things which perplexed him. They took them off the scarecrow. There had been rain during the night; there was water in the shoes, and the coat was somewhat shrunk. Following on from the 2016 series, the 2017 series of Potter coins were also cast in coloured silver proof, alongside a standard BU (brilliant uncirculated) version.Potter was born into an upper-middle-class family in Brompton, London. Both of her parents, Rupert and Helen, were keen artists and encouraged her to pursue her talents. The world that Peter Rabbit first introduced to us in 1902 is still today one of Beatrix Potter's most popular and well-loved worlds. What started as an endearing story about a bunny rabbit would soon become the first ember for the illustrious series that is 'The World of Beatrix Potter', and a story which has endured retelling after retelling at bedtimes all over the world. They went away hand in hand, and got upon the flat top of the wall at the bottom of the wood. From here they looked down into Mr. McGregor’s garden. Peter’s coat and shoes were plainly to be seen upon the scarecrow, topped with an old tam-o’-shanter of Mr. McGregor’s.