Royal Mint releases new 50p coin featuring Albus Dumbledore and King Charles in Harry Potter collection

A coin featuring Professor Albus Dumbledore has been launched as part of a Harry Potter-themed collection from the Royal Mint.

The new coin has the King’s portrait on the "heads" side and Dumbledore’s on the other, while the two other coins in the collection feature the late Queen.

The collection was first introduced in 2022, in celebration of the 25th publishing anniversary of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone.

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: “We are delighted to be continuing our spellbinding Harry Potter coin collection with Professor Albus Dumbledore featuring on his very own 50p.

“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.”

The  Professor Albus Dumbledore coin is available to buy from the Royal Mint website as a 50p denomination version as well as in other denominations.

Prices for the coin range from £11 for a brilliant uncirculated 50p and £20 for a colour version to £5,215 for a £200 denomination gold coin.

Other coins in the collection feature Harry Potter himself, the Hogwarts Express, and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

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. Royal Mint used an advanced picosecond laser to imprint the intricate designs.

Actor Richard Harris played Dumbledore in the films Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, but Michael Gambon took over the role in the later films following Harris’ death.