1994 Two Pounds Trial Coin

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A first Bi-metallic coin ‘trial’. The coins were sold in packs in 1998 but are dated 1994. These trial £2 coins were all issued in packs which also contain examples of the outer and inner blanks and a nickel-brass ring. The obverse used is a modified OBVERSE 1 – very similar, but the trial obverse actually has a dot instead of a small cross between the ‘D’ and ‘ELIZABETH’. The obverse lettering also appears weaker and slightly thinner than usual.

Obverse Type The trial £2 coins feature the Maklouf portrait. The obverse has a small dot instead of a cross below the Queen.

Reverse Type (design by Royal Mint in-house?):

2pounds1994trial

Edge: DECUS ET TUTAMEN ANNO REGNI XLVI.

Mintage for Circulation: None (it is thought that 4500 packs were made).

Collectability/Scarcity: 5 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

The obverse portrait of the Queen by Raphael Maklouf was used on all UK coinage from 1985 to 1997. It was the third portrait of the Queen used on coinage.

The reverse design of the trial £2 coins show the Mayflower ship.

Similar monometallic trial £2 coins exist also dated 1994. These all-gold coloured coins are considerably rarer than the bi-metallic version shown on this page.

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