Silver Ounce 2023 Harry Potter - Hogwarts, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

Like many other mints, the Royal Mint issues bullion coins in precious metals, having much higher intrinsic value than their face value. The one ounce (1 oz) silver coins are denominated as either two pounds (£2) or five pounds (£5), depending on the occasion.

Initially, these were only of the Britannia type, but in 2015 the Royal Mint started to use the format for coins with other types of reverse designs, celebrating various aspects of British heritage.

The coins are legal tender but are not intended for circulation. They are targeted at bullion investors or collectors who appreciate the special editions as pieces of art.

This silver ounce denominated as £2 marks the 25th anniversary of the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - published on 26 June 1997. It is the fourth and final design in a series of four (each released in a number of coin formats).

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" is the first in a series of seven fantasy novels (all later filmed) written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story concerns Harry's struggle against Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who intends to become immortal, overthrow the wizard governing body known as the Ministry of Magic and subjugate all wizards and Muggles (non-magical people).

Engraved by Ffion Gwillim, the design is based on book illustrations by Jim Kay and not on the subsequent films, and features the castle of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.