Mint cashes in on Harry Potter

JK Rowling, the author behind Harry Potter

Fans of the fictitious schoolboy wizard Harry Potter will soon be able to spend legal coins bearing his image.

The gold, silver and cupro nickel coins featuring the creation by author JK Rowling casting a magic spell on one side and the Queen on the other are expected to become collectors items.

They will be legal tender on the Isle of Man and, at shopkeepers' discretion, on mainland Britain.

But shoppers hoping to spend the coins will get a raw deal.

Harry Potter has brought so much pleasure to children and adults alike that it seems to be something worth celebrating

Isle of Man Government spokesman

The gold coin, which is about the size of a five pence piece, will retail at £39.95 and has a street value of just 5p.

The cupro nickel and silver coins, which are both larger than a 50p coin, will sell for £9.95 and £39.95 respectively and are both worth 25p.

The coins will be struck at Pobjoy Mint in Kingswood, Surrey, where the gold and silver versions are limited to 10,000 and 15,000 issues. The cupro nickel coin has no limit.

Managing director Taya Pobjoy said: "We are expecting demand for these coins to be immense.

We are being inundated by telephone calls. The coins will make wonderful collectors' items.

"There is a scene in the first Harry Potter book in which he goes to the bank and withdraws coins left to him by his parents, so it seems particularly apt to produce legal tender featuring Harry himself."

Film release

A spokesman for the Isle of Man Government said: "The Isle of Man has a history of celebrating people and events with special edition coins.

"Harry Potter has brought so much pleasure to children and adults alike that it seems to be something worth celebrating."

The Harry Potter books follow the adventures of an unwanted orphan who discovers he has immense magical powers and is sent to a boarding school for wizards.

The first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, is being produced as a movie.

The coins will be issued in the autumn to coincide with the release of the film.