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Commemorative £2 coins in a single metal (a brass alloy) were struck from 1986 to 1996, usually in very large numbers, but despite this, the £2 coin failed to catch on with the public until the bi-metallic, thinner, lighter coin was introduced in 1998.
There were a total of seven different commemorative single metal £2 coins issued, all of which are shown on this page. Specifications are shown at the bottom of this page. Note: Very rare trial coins are known of, with a ship reverse and the words ‘ROYAL MINT TRIAL’ on them.
Commemorative £2 Coin, Type 1 (more information on the type numbers, here):
Obverse Type (bust design by Raphael Maklouf):
The obverse type with its portrait of the Queen by Raphael Maklouf was used on coins 1 to 6 (of 7).
Reverse Type (design by Norman Sillman):
Edge: XIII COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCOTLAND 1986.
Mintage for Circulation: 8,212,184.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here)
The story behind the design:
A thistle on a St Andrews cross to represent Scotland. The 13th Commonwealth games were held in Edinburgh:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_Commonwealth_Games
Commemorative £2 Coin, Type 2 (more information on the type numbers, here):
Obverse Type (same as first image on this page)
Reverse Type (design by John Lobban):
Edge: the edge is plain and milled.
Mintage for Circulation: The total mintage for both 1989 coins is 4,777,891. Most of those (thought to be 4.4m) were this ‘Bill of Rights’ coin.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here)
The story behind the design:
The design shows the monogram of King William III and Queen Mary (W and M) crowned with the English crown, intertwined around the house of commons mace. The bill of rights was an act of English parliament, it’s full name was ‘An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession on the crown’ and it laid out basic civil rights:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_Rights_1689
Commemorative £2 Coin, Type 3 (more information on the type numbers, here):
Obverse Type (same as first image on this page)
Reverse Type (design by John Lobban):
Edge: the edge is plain and milled.
Mintage for Circulation: This ‘Claim of Right’ coin was apparently only circulated in Scotland and the mintage is thought to be as low as 346k.
Collectability/Scarcity: 4 – 5 (for scale details see here)
The story behind the design:
The design shows the monogram of King William III and Queen Mary (W and M) crowned with the Scottish crown, intertwined around the house of commons mace. The claim of right was an act of Scottish parliament that stripped James VII (James II of England) of his Scottish crown and passed it to King William (III) and Mary:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claim_of_Right_Act_1689
Commemorative £2 Coin, Type 4 (more information on the type numbers, here):
Obverse Type (same as first image on this page)
Reverse Type (design by Leslie Durbin):
Edge: SIC VOS NON VOBIS.
Mintage for Circulation: 1,443,116.
Collectability/Scarcity: 3 (for scale details see here)
The story behind the design:
The design shows the monogram of King William III and Queen Mary (W and M) crowned, with Britannia shown below and the dates 1694 and 1994. The Latin on the edge translates as ‘thus we labour but not for ourselves’. The coin commemorates the tercentenary of the Bank of England:
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/about/Pages/default.aspx
Commemorative £2 Coin, Type 5 (more information on the type numbers, here):
Obverse Type (same as first image on this page)
Reverse Type (design by John Mills):
Edge: 1945 IN PEACE GOODWILL 1995.
Mintage for Circulation: Thought to be 5,000,000. Slightly conflicting information gives a lower number.
Collectability/Scarcity: 2 (for scale details see here)
The story behind the design:
The design shows the dove of peace and commemorates 50 years since the end of WWII. Unusually it doesn’t feature a date on either side, but does have ‘1995’ on the edge. The quote on the edge is from Churchill’s: ‘In War: Resolution, In Defeat: Defiance, In Victory: Magnanimity, In Peace: Goodwill’.
Commemorative £2 Coin, Type 6 (more information on the type numbers, here):
Obverse Type (same as first image on this page)
Reverse Type (design by Michael Rizzello):
Edge: the edge is plain and milled.
Mintage for Circulation: Thought to be 1,750,000. Slightly conflicting information gives a lower number.
Collectability/Scarcity: 3 (for scale details see here)
The story behind the design:
The design shows the UN logo in an array of flags. This coin commemorates 50 years since the establishment of the United Nations in 1945:
Commemorative £2 Coin, Type 7 (more information on the type numbers, here):
Obverse Type (bust design by Raphael Maklouf):
Reverse Type (design by John Mills):
Edge: TENTH EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP.
Mintage for Circulation: 5,141,350.
Collectability/Scarcity: 2 (for scale details see here)
The story behind the design:
The design shows a football with the date ‘1996’ in the centre. The coin was issued to mark the 10th UEFA European Football Championship held that year. The coin is slightly concaved and the obverse was altered and has no rim, adding to it’s chunky feel and appearance. Germany beat the Czech Republic 2 – 1 in the final:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_1996
Specifications for all 1986 – 1996 single metal £2 coins:
Size: 28.4mm
Width: About 3mm
Metal Composition: An alloy of copper, nickel and zinc (referred to as nickel-brass)
Weight: 15.98 grammes (which is the same weight as the gold double sovereign £2 coin)
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