The commemorative coin (1986–1996)

Obverse of the commemorative £2 coin

The British commemorative two pound (£2) coin was minted from the same composition as the £1 coin, i.e. a nickel-brass alloy of approximately 70% copper, 24.5% zinc, and 5.5% nickel. The coin weighs 15.98 grams and has a diameter of 28.40 millimetres. Obverse of a 1995 UN 50th anniversary £2 coin File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Obverse of a 1995 UN 50th anniversary £2 coin File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Commemorative coins are coins that were issued to commemorate some particular event or issue. ... This article discusses the British One Pound circulating coin issued since 1983, only. ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ... General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... For other uses, see Nickel (disambiguation). ...

The only obverse used on the commemorative £2 coin is the head of Queen Elizabeth II by Raphael Maklouf, with the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D TWO POUNDS. Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... Raphael Maklouf (born 10 December 1937) is a sculptor, best known for designing the effigy of Queen Elizabeth used on Commonwealth coinage from 1985 to 1997. ... This article concerns British coinage, the coinage of the United Kingdom. ...

These coins tended not to circulate at the time of their issue, but they do seem to appear in circulation more often now that there is also a regular coin of this denomination.

There were seven issues of this coin between 1986 and 1996. The coins have the following reverses and inscriptions:

	1986: 13th Commonwealth Games, held in Scotland. Reverse: Thistle on St Andrew's Cross, 1986 above. Edge inscription: XIII COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCOTLAND 1986.
	1989: Tercentenary of the English Bill of Rights. Reverse: Intertwined W and M (for William and Mary) with mace, English crown above, 1689 over 1989 below, TERCENTENARY OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS above. No edge inscription.
	1989: Tercentenary of the Scottish Claim of Right. Reverse: Intertwined W and M (for William and Mary) with mace, Scottish crown above, 1689 over 1989 below, TERCENTENARY OF THE CLAIM OF RIGHT above. No edge inscription.
	1994: Tercentenary of the Bank of England. Reverse: Seal of the Bank of England, intertwined W and M (for William and Mary) surmounted by crown above legend BANK OF ENGLAND 1694 1994. Edge inscription: SIC VOS NON VOBIS ("thus we labour, but not for ourselves", motto of William Paterson).
	1995: 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Reverse: Dove carrying olive branch designed by John W Mills. Edge inscription: 1945 IN PEACE GOODWILL 1995. An unusual coin, in that the date is indicated only on its edge.
	1995: 50th anniversary of the United Nations. Reverse: Array of flags, 50 and UN symbol with legend: NATIONS UNITED FOR PEACE 1945 – 1995. Milled edge, no inscription.
	1996: Euro 96 European Football Championships. Reverse: Representation of a football, 1996 in centre, 16 small rings representing the 16 competing teams designed by John W Mills designer's initials indicated in stitching. Edge inscription: TENTH EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP.

Image File history File links 2POUND1986. ... Current flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation Locations of the games, and participating countries Commonwealth Games Federation seal, adopted in 2001 The Commonwealth Games is a multinational, multi-sport event. ... The Saltire (or St Andrews Cross) is the national flag of Scotland. ... Image File history File links 2POUNDBILLOFRIGHTS.jpg http://www. ... The Bill of Rights 1689 is an English Act of Parliament with the long title An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of the Crown and known colloquially in the UK as the Bill of Rights. ... William III Mary II The phrase William and Mary usually refers to the joint sovereignty over the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland of King William III and his wife Queen Mary II. Their joint reign began in February, 1689, when they were called to the throne by... This article needs cleanup. ... English Bill of Rights (1689). ... Image File history File links 2POUNDCLAIMOFRIGHTS.jpg http://www. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Claim of Right The Claim of Right is an Act passed by the Parliament of Scotland in April 1689. ... William III Mary II The phrase William and Mary usually refers to the joint sovereignty over the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland of King William III and his wife Queen Mary II. Their joint reign began in February, 1689, when they were called to the throne by... This article needs cleanup. ... The Claim of Right is an Acts of Parliament passed by the old Scottish Parliament in April 1689. ... Image File history File links 2POUND1994. ... Headquarters Coordinates , , Governor Mervyn King Central Bank of United Kingdom Currency Pound sterling ISO 4217 Code GBP Base borrowing rate 5. ... William III Mary II The phrase William and Mary usually refers to the joint sovereignty over the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland of King William III and his wife Queen Mary II. Their joint reign began in February, 1689, when they were called to the throne by... Sir William Paterson. ... Image File history File links 2POUND1995. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... John William Mills PPRBS ARCA FRSA. is a British sculptor. ... Image File history File links 2POUNDUNITEDNATIONS.jpg http://www. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ... Image File history File links 2POUND1996. ... -1... John William Mills PPRBS ARCA FRSA. is a British sculptor. ...

The modern circulating coin (1997–present)

Two Pound (United Kingdom)
Value:	2.0 Pound sterling
Mass:	12 g
Diameter:	28.4 mm
Thickness:	2.5 mm
Edge:	Milled with incuse lettering
Composition:	Outer ring76% Cu, 20% Zn, and 4% Ni, Centre 25% Ni, 75% Cu
Years of minting:	1997–Present
Catalog number:	-
Obverse
Design:	Queen Elizabeth II
Designer:	Ian Rank-Broadley
Design date:	1994
Reverse
Design:
Designer:	Bruce Rushin
Design date:	1997

In 1997 a new design went into production, intended for everyday circulation. It was the first bi-metallic coin to be produced for circulation in Britain since the tin farthing with a copper plug produced in 1692, and is the highest denomination coin in current circulation. The coin consists of an outer gold-coloured nickel-brass ring made from 76% copper, 20% zinc, and 4% nickel, and an inner silver-coloured cupro-nickel disc made from 75% copper, 25% nickel. The coin weighs 12.00 grams and is 28.40 millimetres in diameter. The coin was introduced to test the public's opinion on the use of bi-metallic coins as a precursor to the possible introduction of the euro, as the one and two euro coins were planned to be bi-metallic. GBP redirects here. ... GBP redirects here. ... BIC pen cap, about 1 gram. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter), symbol mm is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ... General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... For other uses, see Nickel (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Nickel (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... Ian Rank-Broadley (born 1952) is a British sculptor who has produced many acclaimed works, among which are several designs for British coinage. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... UK £2 coin, 200 (normal non-commemorative reverse) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Bruce Rushin used to be an art teacher at Flegg High School in Norfolk, UK. His current claim to fame is designing the 1997 £2 coin for Great Britain (British_coin_Two_Pounds). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Events February 13 - Massacre of Glencoe March 1 - The Salem witch trials begin in Salem Village, Massachusetts Bay Colony with the charging of three women with witchcraft. ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ... General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... For other uses, see Nickel (disambiguation). ...

The design itself was first trialled in 1994 when the Royal Mint produced a short run of demonstration pieces to the new bi-metal standard. These pieces were not for circulation and were simply intended to test the manufacturing process. The coin was technically similar to the version which eventually entered circulation with the Maklouf efigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and the image of a sailing ship similar to that previously used on the pre-decimalisation halfpenny piece on the reverse. The inscription on the reverse read ROYAL MINT TRIAL 1994 with an edge inscription based on the one pound coin which read DECUS ET TUTAMEN ANNO REGNI XLXVI, meaning "An ornament and a safeguard - in the 46th year of her reign". The 1994 pieces were never legal tender but were eventually released for sale as part of a presentation set in 1998. Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. ... Elizabeth II in an official portrait as Queen of Canada (on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, wearing the Sovereigns badges of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) (born 21 April 1926), styled HM The... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...

Because of technical difficulties, the 1997-dated coins, which bear the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Raphael Maklouf, were not released to circulation until June 1998 (the same time as the 1998-dated coins). 1998 and later dated coins bear the effigy of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley. The Maklouf-effigy coins bear the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D on the obverse; the Rank-Broadley coins bear the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRA REG FID DEF. For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... Raphael Maklouf (born 10 December 1937) is a sculptor, best known for designing the effigy of Queen Elizabeth used on Commonwealth coinage from 1985 to 1997. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Ian Rank-Broadley (born 1952) is a British sculptor who has produced many acclaimed works, among which are several designs for British coinage. ... This article concerns British coinage, the coinage of the United Kingdom. ... This article concerns British coinage, the coinage of the United Kingdom. ...

The reverse of the regular-issue coin, designed by Bruce Rushin, bears a concentric design symbolically representing technological development from the Iron Age, through the Industrial Revolution and the Electronic Age to the Internet, with the inscription TWO POUNDS above the design and the date below. It is worth noting that the design depicts nineteen interlocking cogs; due to this odd number, the mechanism could not actually turn outside a Möbius strip. The coin has the edge inscription STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS taken from a letter by Sir Isaac Newton to Robert Hooke, in which he describes how his work was built on the knowledge of those that had gone before him. "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Bruce Rushin used to be an art teacher at Flegg High School in Norfolk, UK. His current claim to fame is designing the 1997 £2 coin for Great Britain (British_coin_Two_Pounds). ... Iron Age Axe found on Gotland This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age, for the mythological Iron Age see Iron Age (mythology). ... A Watt steam engine, the steam engine that propelled the Industrial Revolution in Britain and the world. ... A Möbius strip made with a piece of paper and tape. ... Inscriptions are words or letters written, engraved, painted, or otherwise traced on a surface and can appear in contexts both small and monumental. ... The metaphor of dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants can be traced back to Lucan,[cannot be traced to this source. ... Sir Isaac Newton in Knellers portrait of 1689. ... Robert Hooke, FRS (July 18, 1635 – March 3, 1703) was an English polymath who played an important role in the scientific revolution, through both experimental and theoretical work. ...

The comparative rarity of the Maklouf-effigy coins ("the ones with the necklace") has led to an urban myth that they are much more valuable than the other coins, but this is not true – there are over 13 million 1997-dated £2 coins in circulation. Another urban myth about the coin is that putting it in the freezer overnight causes the cupro-nickel centre to pop out. (This is the case with the similarly-designed Canadian two dollar coin). Urban Legend is also the name of a 1998 movie. ... Toonie (sometimes spelled twoonie or twonie) is the nickname Canadians collectively gave their two-dollar coin; it is a portmanteau word combining the number two with the name of the loonie, Canadas one-dollar coin. ...

Special issues

This denomination is now commonly used for commemorative purposes. However, unlike the earlier commemorative coins described above, these special issues are intended for everyday circulation and are regularly encountered as such. The following varieties have been issued (illustrations show the reverse designs; obverses are the same as the regular coin).

1999: Rugby World Cup. Reverse: Symbolic representation of a stadium with a rugby ball and goalposts; 1999 above the design, TWO POUNDS below. Edge inscription: RUGBY WORLD CUP 1999. 4.9 million coins in circulation.[1]

	2001: Transatlantic radio centenary. Reverse: Symbolic representation of Marconi's transatlantic wireless transmission of 1901; TWO POUNDS below. Edge inscription: WIRELESS BRIDGES THE ATLANTIC...MARCONI...1901.
	2002: Commonwealth Games, Manchester (English issue). Reverse: XVII COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2002 around an athlete holding a banner, £2 in front and the English flag. Edge inscription: SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP MANCHESTER 2002.
	2002: Commonwealth Games, Manchester (Welsh issue). Reverse: XVII COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2002 around an athlete holding a banner, £2 in front and the Welsh flag. Edge inscription: SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP MANCHESTER 2002.
	2002: Commonwealth Games, Manchester (Northern Irish issue). Reverse: XVII COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2002 around an athlete holding a banner, £2 in front and the Northern Irish flag. Edge inscription: SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP MANCHESTER 2002.
	2002: Commonwealth Games, Manchester (Scottish issue). Reverse: XVII COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2002 around an athlete holding a banner, £2 in front and the Scottish flag. Edge inscription: SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP MANCHESTER 2002.
	2003: 50th anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA. Reverse: Representation of the DNA double helix, DNA DOUBLE HELIX above, 1953 TWO POUNDS 2003 below designed by John W Mills. Edge inscription: DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID followed by a decorative side view of a double helix.
	2004: Bicentenary of the first railway locomotive. Reverse: Richard Trevithick's 1804 locomotive with TWO POUNDS above it, with a "toothed wheel" design on the inner edge of the gold coloured ring, and the inscription: 2004 R. TREVITHICK 1804 INVENTION - INDUSTRY - PROGRESS around. Edge inscription: decorative design intended to represent a railway track.
	2005: 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot Reverse: Three Parliamentary maces, three episcopal crooks, and six swords in the centre, 1605 - 2005 above, TWO POUNDS below, and fourteen gunpowder explosion stars on either side. Edge inscription: REMEMBER REMEMBER THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER
	2005: 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Reverse: Saint Paul's Cathedral crossed with searchlights, 1945 - 2005 below, TWO POUNDS above. Edge inscription: IN VICTORY MAGNANIMITY IN PEACE GOODWILL
	2006: Bicentenary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Reverse: Roof of Brunel's Paddington Station, TWO POUNDS below, 2006 above. Edge inscription: SO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE. The 2006 £2 coin was released into general circulation on 13 April 2006.
	2006: Bicentenary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Reverse: Brunel portrait with the Royal Albert Bridge behind, TWO POUNDS above, 2006 below. Edge inscription: ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL · ENGINEER 1806-1859. The 2006 £2 coin was released into general circulation on 13 April 2006.
	2007: Bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. Reverse: 1807, with the 0 as part of a broken chain, 2007 below, AN ACT FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE above and around. Edge inscription: AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER
	2007: Tricentenary of the Acts of Union 1707. Reverse: Split into four jigsaw pieces, Scottish thistle in the top left, English rose in the bottom right, parliamentary gates in the top right and bottom left. TWO 2007 above, 1707 POUNDS below. Edge inscription: UNITED INTO ONE KINGDOM
	2008: 100th anniversary of the 1908 London Summer Olympics.[2]

(UK 1999 Rugby World Cup commemorative £2 - own scan) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The William Webb Ellis Trophy, the main prize of the Rugby Union World Cup The Rugby World Cup is the premier international Rugby Union contest in the world, first held jointly in Australia and New Zealand in 1987, a full 33 years after the first Rugby League World Cup and... UK 2001 Marconi commemorative £2 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... For the inventor of radio,Marconi see the competing claims in history of radio and the invention of radio. ... Reverse of a 2002 Commonealth Games commemorative £2 coin - English version File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from July 25 to August 4, 2002. ... The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from July 25 to August 4, 2002. ... The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from July 25 to August 4, 2002. ... Reverse of a 2002 Commonealth Games commemorative £2 coin - Scottish version This work is copyrighted. ... The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from July 25 to August 4, 2002. ... (UK 2003 discovery of DNA structure commemorative £2 - own scan) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The structure of part of a DNA double helix Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is a nucleic acid molecule that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. ... John William Mills PPRBS ARCA FRSA. is a British sculptor. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (640x640, 323 KB) Summary Photograph of reverse side of £2 coin, which commemorates Trevithicks locomotive. ... Richard Trevithick Richard Trevithick (April 13, 1771 – April 22, 1833) was a Cornish inventor, mining engineer and builder of the first working railway steam locomotive. ... Image File history File links Two pound coin - 2005 issue commemorating Gunpowder Plot This work is copyrighted. ... A contemporary sketch of the conspirators. ... Image File history File links 2POUNDWW2. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... St Pauls Cathedral is a cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London in London, and the seat of the Bishop of London. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS (9 April 1806 – 15 September 1859) (IPA: ), was a British engineer. ... Paddington Station, March 2005 during rush hour Paddington station or London Paddington station is a major National Rail and London Underground station complex in the Paddington area of London. ... is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS (9 April 1806 – 15 September 1859) (IPA: ), was a British engineer. ... For other bridges bearing the name Albert, see Albert Bridge. ... is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... The Acts of Union were a pair of Acts of Parliament passed in 1706 and 1707 (taking effect on 1 May 1707) by, respectively, the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland. ... The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IV Olympiad, were held in 1908 in London, England. ...

References

1. ^ Clayton, Tony (11 January 2008). Decimal Coins of the UK: 10 - Decimal Two Pounds. Decimal Coins of the UK, v6. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
2. ^ Royal Mint 2008 Standard Proof Coin Set

is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• British banknotes

British banknotes are the banknotes of the United Kingdom and British Islands, denominated in pounds sterling (GBP). ...

External links

• Royal Mint – £2 coin
• Coins of the UK - Decimal £2 Coins
• A Picture Gallary of some British Coins!