A new £2 coin bearing the late Queen's portrait is being rolled out from today (November 22).
The Royal Mint has launched the special collectable coin to celebrate 25 years of the bi-metallic £2 coin. Since it was first struck for circulation 25 years ago, the bi-metallic £2 is the largest circulating coin denomination in the United Kingdom and has become a favourite among collectors in the UK.
More than 50 unique designs have appeared on the £2, commemorating significant scientific, technological, sporting, and literary achievements and key moments in British history. The Royal Mint said it has committed to releasing coins dated 2022 bearing Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait to ensure a sustainable transition to the coinage of King Charles III.
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Inspired by the history of technological achievement, Bruce Rushin’s 1997 design features four concentric circles, depicting industrial and technological progress from the Iron Age to the Internet. The "Technology" design features on circulating £2 coins dated 1997 to 2015 and has been released on the new commemorative edition and enhanced with special features in a nod to the anniversary.
Combining tradition and technology, a latent feature has been added to the design to reveal the number 25 within the central cog when it catches the light. The original twist represents the evolution of minting technology at The Royal Mint.
The special high-security feature is created using state-of-the-art laser technology to achieve a sharper detail than the milling machine used in 1997.
The obverse side of the anniversary coin also features an "iron age" privy mark to the bottom of the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, a tribute to Bruce Rushin’s contribution. As with the 1997 design, the coin features the edge inscription ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’ taken from a letter written in 1676 by Sir Isaac Newton representing that today's achievements would not be possible without the discoveries of the past.
This anniversary edition of the £2 coin is available as a gold Proof, silver Proof, silver Proof Piedfort and a "Brilliant Uncirculated" edition at The Royal Mint website. Prices vary from £12 to £1,225.
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