£2 Coin Designs and Specifications

After a review of the United Kingdom coinage in 1994, it emerged that there was a requirement for a £2 coin to enter general circulation. A consultation process took place with the vending machine industry, members of the public and special interest groups, such as the RNIB and Age Concern. The consensus of opinion from the consultation favoured a bicolour coin, because it would be easily distinguishable from the other coins in circulation.

A new design was required for the reverse and it was decided that a competition, open to members of the general public, was the way to proceed. The winning artist, Bruce Rushin, an art teacher from Norfolk, based his design on a series of concentric circles telling the story, through symbolic devices, of technological development from the Iron Age to the Industrial Revolution and from the Computer Age to the internet.

An appropriate edge inscription had to be chosen before the recommended design could be submitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and then to Queen Elizabeth II, for approval. The words that were eventually chosen were taken from a letter written in 1676 by Isaac Newton to his fellow scientist Robert Hooke, acknowledging the debt he owed to others: 'If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants'

Originally, the intention was to issue the £2 coin in November 1997 and millions of coins were struck with the Raphael Maklouf portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse in readiness for launch. Concerns, however, emerged from the vending industry prior to the issue date. Production was placed on hold, whilst further tests were carried out, and resumed in 1998, featuring the new portrait of Her Late Majesty­ by Ian Rank-Broadley on the obverse.

The £2 coin was eventually launched on 15 June 1998, when millions of both versions of the coin were released. Because of the two different portraits, however, many confusing stories have arisen. The most common misconception is that the £2 coin bearing the Raphael Maklouf portrait of the Queen, in which she is wearing a necklace, was made in very modest numbers. However, since millions of these coins were minted, this is simply not the case.

The £2 coin is legal tender for any amount.

The first £2 coins

The first base metal £2 coin was issued in the United Kingdom in 1986 to commemorate the Thirteenth Commonwealth Games, which were held in Scotland that year. Commemorative £2 coins continued to be issued in single colour nickel-brass for special occasions. 

First Issued 15 June 1998
Diameter 28.4mm
Weight 12.0g
Thickness 2.50mm
Composition Outer: Nickel-Brass (76% copper, 4% nickel, 20% zinc)
Inner: Cupro-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel)
Obverse Designers

Portrait of Her Late Majesty The Queen
1997 - Raphael Maklouf
1998-2015 - Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
2015-2022 - Jody Clark
2022 to date - Martin Jennings

Reverse
Designers
See table below
Edge Milled

 

Coin Image Year of Issue Edge Inscription Design Information
1997 £2 Coin 1997 - 2015 STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

The History of Technological Achievement

The design, in four concentric circles, depicts mankind's industrial and technological progress from the Iron Age to the Internet.

Designed by: Bruce Rushin

2015 £2 Coin 2015 - QUATUOR MARIA VINDICO

Britannia

Timeless, symbolic, stirring and inspirational, this stunning interpretation of Britannia is respectful of times past but recasts her for a brand new era.

Designed by: Antony Dufort

1999 £2 Coin 1999 RUGBY WORLD CUP 1999

The 1999 Rugby World Cup

The design depicts a stadium, on which is superimposed a rugby ball and goalpost. The date 1999 above, separated by goalposts from the value TWO POUNDS below.

Designed by: Ron Dutton

2001 £2 Coin 2001 WIRELESS BRIDGES THE ATLANTIC...MARCONI 1901...

The 100th Anniversary of Marconi's 1st Wireless Transmission across the Atlantic

Radio waves decorate the centre and outer border, while a spark of electricity linking the zeros of the date represents the generation of the signal.

Designed by: Robert Evans

2002 £2 Coin 2002

SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP

MANCHESTER 2002

The XVII Commonwealth Games in Manchester

A stylised figure of an athlete holding a banner and the inscription XVII Commonwealth Games 2002.

Designed by: Matthew Bonaccorsi

2003 £2 Coin 2003 DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID

The 50th Anniversary of the Discovery of DNA

A representation of the double-helical structure of DNA with the words DNA DOUBLE HELIX above and TWO POUNDS and the dates 1953-2003 below.

Designed by: John Mills

2004 £2 Coin 2004 Edge is milled with an incuse railway line motif

The 200th Anniversary of the First Steam Locomotive by Richard Trevithick

A representation of a steam locomotive engine with the words - TWO POUNDS - above and inside a cog wheel, with the words R.TREVITHICK 1804 INVENTION INDUSTRY PROGRESS 2004 as a circumscription.

Designed by: Robert Lowe

2005 £2 Coin 2005

REMEMBER REMEMBER

THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER

The 400th Anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot

An arrangement of crossiers, maces and swords, surrounded by stars and the dates 1605 & 2005. Denomination TWO POUNDS below.

Designed by: Peter Forster

2005 £2 Coin 2005

IN VICTORY MAGNANIMITY

IN PEACE GOODWILL

The 60th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War

St Paul's Cathedral illuminated by searchlights, and the value TWO POUNDS above and the dates 1945-2005 below.

Designed by: Bob Elderton

2006 £2 Coin 2006 SO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE

The 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel

A section of the roof of Paddington Station, with the dates 2006 above and the name BRUNEL to the right, and the denomination TWO POUNDS below.

Designed by: Robert Evans

2006 £2 Coin 2006 1806-1859 ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL ENGINEER

The 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel

A portrait of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, with two of his engineering achievements, encircled by a chain, with the denomination TWO POUNDS above and the date 2006 below.

Designed by: Rod Kelly

2007 £2 Coin 2007 UNITED INTO ONE KINGDOM

The Tercentenary of the Act of Union between England and Scotland

The coin divided into four quarters, with a rose and a thistle occupying two of the quarters and a portcullis in each of the other two quarters. The whole design is overlaid with a linking jigsaw motif and surrounded by the dates 1707 and 2007, and the denomination TWO POUNDS.

Designed by: Yvonne Holton

2007 £2 Coin 2007 AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER

The Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade in the British Empire

The date 1807 with the 0 depicted as a broken chain link, surrounded by the inscription AN ACT FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE and the date 2007.

Designed by: David Gentleman

2008 £2 Coin 2008

I CALL UPON THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD

The Olympic Handover Ceremony in Beijing

Designed by: The Royal Mint Engraving Team
2008 £2 Coin 2008 THE 4TH OLYMPIAD LONDON The Centenary of the London Olympic Games of 1908

Designed by: Thomas T Docherty
2009 £2 Coin 2009 SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT The 250th Anniversary of the Birth of Robert Burns

Designed by: The Royal Mint Engraving Team
2009 £2 Coin 2009 ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES 1859 The 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Charles Darwin

Designed by: Suzie Zamit
2010 £2 Coin 2010 150 YEARS OF NURSING The 100th Anniversary of the Death of Florence Nightingale

Designed by: Gordon Summers
2011 £2 Coin  2011 THE AUTHORISED VERSION

The 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible

Designed by: Paul Stafford and Benjamin Wright

2011 £2 Coin  2011 YOUR NOBLEST SHIPPE 1511

The 500th Anniversary of the Maiden Voyage of the Mary Rose

Designed by: John Bergdahl

2012 £2 Coin  2012 SOMETHING WILL TURN UP

The 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Charles Dickens

Designed by: Matthew Dent

Rio Handover £2 Coin 2012 I CALL UPON THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD

The London 2012 Handover to Rio

Designed by: Jonathan Olliffe

Underground £2 Coin 2013 Linear representation of the Tube map

The 150th Anniversary of the London Underground - The Train

Designed by: Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby

Underground £2 Coin 2013 MIND THE GAP

The 150th Anniversary of the London Underground - The Roundel

Designed by: Edwina Ellis

Guinea £2 Coin 2013 WHAT IS A GUINEA? ‘TIS A SPLENDID THING

The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea

Designed by: Anthony Smith ARBS

First World War You £2 Coin 2014 THE LAMPS ARE GOING OUT ALL OVER EUROPE The 100th Anniversary of the First World War – Outbreak

Designed by: John Bergdahl
Trinity House £2 Coin

2014

SERVING THE MARINER

The 500th Anniversary of the Founding of Trinity House

Designed by: Joe Whitlock Blundell with David Eccles

 

Magna Carta £2 Coin

2015

FOUNDATION OF LIBERTY

The 800th Anniversary of the Signing of Magna Carta

Designed by: John Bergdahl

First World War £2 Coin 2015 THE SURE SHIELD OF BRITAIN

The 100th Anniversary of the First World War - The Royal Navy

Designed by: David Rowlands

Great Fire of London £2 Coin

2016

THE WHOLE CITY IN DREADFUL FLAMES

The 350th Anniversary of the Great Fire of London

Designed by: Aaron West

2016 Army £2 coin

2016

FOR KING AND COUNTRY

The 100th Anniversary of the First World War - The Army

Designed by: Tim Sharp

Shakespeare The Hallow Crown £2 Coin

2016

THE HOLLOW CROWN

The Shakespeare Histories

Designed by: John Bergdahl

Shakespeare All The World's a Stage £2 Coin 2016 ALL THE WORLDS A STAGE

The Shakespeare Comedies

Designed by: John Bergdahl

William Shakespeare 2016 £2 Coin 2016 WHAT A PIECE OF WORK IS A MAN

The Shakespeare Tragedies

Designed by: John Bergdahl

Jane Austen £2 2017 THERE IS NO DOING WITHOUT MONEY

The 200th Anniversary of the Death of Jane Austen

Designed by: Dominique Evans

fww aviation £2 Coin 2017 THE SKY RAINED HEROES

The 100th Anniversary of the First World War - Aviation

Designed by: Dan Flashman, Tangerine Design

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RAF Centenary Badge 2018 £2 Coin 2018 PER ARDUA AD ASTRA

The Centenary of the Royal Air Force

Designed by: Rhys Morgan

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RAF Centenary Spitfire 2018 £2 Coin 2018 PER ARDUA AD ASTRA

The Centenary of the Royal Air Force - Spitfire

Designed by: Richard Talbot and Neil Talbot

First World War Armistice 2018 £2 Coin 2018 WILFRED OWEN KILLED IN ACTION 4 NOV 1918

The 100th Anniversary of the First World War - Armistice

Designed by: Stephen Raw

RAF Centenary Vulcan 2018 £2 Coin 2018 PER ARDUA AD ASTRA

The Centenary of the Royal Air Force - Vulcan

Designed by: Richard Talbot and Neil Talbot

Captain James Cook 2018 £2 Coin 2018 OCEANI INVESTIGATOR ACERRIMVS

The 250th Anniversary of Captain James Cook's Voyage of Discovery

Designed by: Gary Breeze

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RAF Centenary Sea King £2 Coin 2018 PER ARDUA AD ASTRA

The Centenary of the Royal Air Force - Sea King

Designed by: Richard Talbot and Neil Talbot

RAF Centenary Lightning II 2018 £2 Coin 2018 PER ARDUA AD ASTRA

The Centenary of the Royal Air Force - Lightning II

Designed by: Richard Talbot and Neil Talbot

Frankenstein £2 Coin 2018 A SPARK OF BEING

The Bicentenary of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Designed by: Thomas Docherty

Wedgwood £2 Coin 2019 EVERYTHING GIVES WAY TO EXPERIMENT

The 260th Anniversary of the Founding of Wedgwood

Designed by: The Wedgwood Design Team

Samuel Pepys £2 Coin 2019 THE GOOD GOD PREPARE ME

The 350th Anniversary of the Closure of Samuel Pepys' Diary

Designed by: Gary Breeze

D-Day £2 Coin 2019 THE LONGEST DAY

The 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings

Designed by: Stephen Taylor

Captain Cook £2 Coin 2019 OCEANI INVESTIGATOR ACERRIMVS

The 250th Anniversary of Captain James Cook's Voyage of Discovery - 1769-2019

Designed by: Gary Breeze

Mayflower £2 Coin 2020 UNDERTAKEN FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

The 400th Anniversary of the Voyage of the Mayflower

Designed by: Chris Costello

Agatha Christie £2 Coin 2020 LITTLE GREY CELLS

The 100th Anniversary of the Murder Mysteries of Agatha Christie

Designed by: David Lawrence

VE Day £2 Coin 2020 JUST TRIUMPH AND PROUD SORROW

The 75th Anniversary of VE Day

Designed by: Dominique Evans

Captain Cook £2 Coin 2020 OCEANI INVESTIGATOR ACERRIMVS

The 250th Anniversary of Captain James Cook’s Voyage of Discovery – 1770-2020

Designed by: Gary Breeze

H.G Wells £2 Coin 2021 GOOD BOOKS ARE THE WAREHOUSES OF IDEAS

The 75th Anniversary of the Death of H.G. Wells

Designed by: Chris Costello

Sir Walter Scott £2 Coin 2021 THE WILL TO DO, THE SOUL TO DARE

The 250th Anniversary of the Birth of Sir Walter Scott

Designed by: Stephen Raw

Alexander Graham Bell £2 Coin 2022 INNOVATION IN SCIENCE • BELL

The 100th Anniversary of the Death of Alexander Graham Bell

Designed by: Henry Gray

Dame Vera Lynn £2 Coin 2022 WE’LL MEET AGAIN

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dame Vera Lynn

Designed by: The Royal Mint Coin Design Team

The 150th Anniversary of the FA Cup 2022 FOOTBALL’S GREATEST CUP COMPETITION

Celebrating 150 Years of the FA Cup

Designed by: Matt Dent/Christian Davies

Celebrating 25 Years of the £2 2022 STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

Celebrating 25 Years of the £2

Designed by: Bruce Rushin

Celebrating the Life and Work of JRR Tolkien 2023 NOT ALL THOSE WHO WANDER ARE LOST

Celebrating the Life and Work of JRR Tolkien

Designed by: David Lawrence

The 150th Anniversary of the FA Cup 2023 INNOVATION IN SCIENCE · JENNER

Edward Jenner

Designed by: Henry Gray

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The 150th Anniversary of the FA Cup 2023 LIVE FOR THE JOURNEY

The Centenary of Flying Scotsman

Designed by: John Bergdahl

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Ada Lovelace 2023 · INNOVATION IN SCIENCE · LOVELACE

Ada Lovelace

Designed by: Osborne Ross

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King Charles III Definitive £2 Coin 2023 • IN SERVITIO OMNIUM

King Charles III Definitive £2 Coin

Designed by: The Royal Mint

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The 200th Anniversary of the National Gallery 2024 · MAIORVM GLORIA POSTERIS LVMEN EST

The 200th Anniversary of the National Gallery

Designed by: Edwina Ellis

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The 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Sir Winston Churchill 2024 · PAVE THE WAY FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM

The 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Sir Winston Churchill

Designed by: Natasha Seaward

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Coin Image Year of Issue Edge Inscription Design Information
1986 Two Pound Coin 1986 XIII COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCOTLAND 1986

The XIII Commonwealth Games

Cross of St Andrew, a crown of laurel leaves and Scottish Thistle.

Designed by: Norman Sillman

1989 Two Pound Coin 1989 Milled

The Tercentenary of the Bill of Rights

Cypher of 'W&M' (King William and Queen Mary) interlaced, surmounting a horizontal Parliamentary Mace and representation of the Royal Crown above and the dates 1689 and 1989 below, all within the inscription TERCENTENARY OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS or TERCENTENARY OF CLAIM OF RIGHT (the latter, Scotland only).

Designed by: John Lobban

1994 Two Pound Coin 1994 SIC VOS NON VOBIS

The Tercentenary of the Establishment of the Bank of England

The Bank's Corporate Seal, including the Crown and Cypher of King William and Queen Mary and the dates 1694 and 1994.

Designed by: Leslie Durbin

1995 Two Pound Coin  1995 1945 IN PEACE GOODWILL 1995

The 50th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War

A stylised representation of a Dove as the symbol of Peace.

Designed by: John Mills

1995 Two Pound Coin 1995 Milled

The 50th Anniversary of the Founding of the United Nations

50th anniversary symbol of the United Nations and a fanning pattern of flags, with the inscription NATIONS UNITED FOR PEACE above and the dates 1945-1995 below.

Designed by: Michael Rizzello

1996 Two Pound Coin 1996 TENTH EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

The 10th European Football Championship

A stylised representation of a football, with the date of 1996 centrally placed and encircled by sixteen small rings.

Designed by: John Mills

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