The bi-metallic £2 coin has been part of British everyday life since 1998. In that time The Royal Mint has issued a wide variety of designs - both standard definitives and commemoratives marking events from the Abolition of the Slave Trade to the Shakespeare anniversaries. This guide covers every £2 coin that has entered general circulation, with mintage figures, background on each design, and guidance on value in circulated condition.
The familiar bi-metallic £2 coin we know today was introduced on 15 June 1998, though the first coins were actually struck and dated 1997. Their arrival followed a 1994 review of UK coinage that concluded a £2 denomination was needed for everyday use. A public consultation - involving the vending machine industry, members of the public, and groups including the Royal National Institute of Blind People - reached a consensus in favour of a distinctive bi-metallic design that would be easy to distinguish from other coins by sight and by touch.
The winning reverse design was submitted by Norfolk art teacher Bruce Rushin. His concentric circle motif represents the story of technological development from the Iron Age, through the Industrial Revolution, to the Electronic Age and the Internet. The coin's edge carries the inscription STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS, taken from a letter by Isaac Newton - who served as both Warden and Master of the Royal Mint.
In February 2015, The Royal Mint introduced a new standard reverse design featuring Britannia, created by Antony Dufort. This replaced the Technology design on definitive coins and carries the new edge inscription QUATUOR MARIA VINDICO - Latin for "I claim the four seas", an inscription previously used on coins bearing the image of Britannia.
Beyond the standard definitives, The Royal Mint has regularly issued commemorative £2 coins alongside the standard designs, typically one or two per year. Since 2017, no £2 coins have been struck for general circulation; recent commemorative issues have been produced for collectors only and are not found in change.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Face value | £2 |
| Diameter | 28.4mm |
| Thickness | 2.5mm |
| Weight | 12.00g |
| Outer ring alloy | Nickel-brass (76% copper, 20% zinc, 4% nickel) |
| Inner disc alloy | Cupronickel (75% copper, 25% nickel) |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge (1997-2015 definitives) | STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS |
| Edge (2015 onwards definitives) | QUATUOR MARIA VINDICO |
| Issued by | The Royal Mint |
Definitive £2 coins carry The Royal Mint's standard reverse design rather than a commemorative theme. Two reverse designs have been used since 1998.
The Technology reverse, designed by Bruce Rushin, was used on definitive £2 coins from the first issues of 1997 and 1998 through to 2015. The design features concentric rings and interlocking gears - an interesting quirk being that the design uses nineteen gears, an odd number that would make the mechanism impossible to turn in reality. The outer ring of the coin is gold-coloured nickel-brass; the inner disc is silver-coloured cupronickel.
Technology reverse definitives were struck in most years between 1997 and 2015, though not every year saw a new issue. All are common coins and worth face value in circulated condition.
Years issued for circulation: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015.
The Britannia reverse, designed by Antony Dufort, was introduced in 2015. It depicts a standing Britannia - the classical embodiment of Britain - and replaced the Technology design on definitive issues. The 2015 and 2016 dated Britannia definitives entered general circulation; subsequent Britannia-reverse £2 coins have been issued for collectors only.
Years issued for circulation: 2015, 2016.
The following coins all entered general circulation and may be found in change. They are listed chronologically. Where a coin is significantly scarcer than most and commands a premium above face value in circulated condition, this is noted.
Issued to mark the 1999 Rugby World Cup, hosted across Wales, England, France, Scotland, and Ireland. The reverse features a rugby ball at the centre of a pattern of interlocking arcs. Common coin, worth face value in circulated condition.
Marks the centenary of Guglielmo Marconi's first transatlantic radio transmission in 1901. The design features radiating lines representing a wireless signal, incorporating Morse code. Common coin, worth face value in circulated condition.
Four coins were issued to mark the 2002 Commonwealth Games held in Manchester - one for each of the UK's home nations, each featuring that nation's flag at the centre of a sporting track design. All four are worth above face value in circulated condition due to their relatively low mintages.
Marks the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA by Francis Crick and James Watson at the University of Cambridge in 1953. The design features the iconic double helix structure. Mintage: 4,299,000. Worth face value in circulated condition.
Celebrates the bicentenary of Richard Trevithick's pioneering steam locomotive, which made its first journey at Merthyr Tydfil in 1804. The design depicts a steam locomotive emerging from a cog wheel. Mintage: 5,004,500. Worth face value in circulated condition.
Marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 1945. The design features a dove of peace above the dates 1945-2005, with the inscription IN VICTORY MAGNANIMITY IN PEACE GOODWILL - a quotation from Winston Churchill. Mintage: 10,191,000. Worth face value in circulated condition.
Commemorates the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The reverse features a stylised image of a lantern associated with Guy Fawkes and the plotters, with the inscription REMEMBER REMEMBER THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER. Mintage: 5,140,500. Worth face value in circulated condition.
Two coins were issued in 2006 to mark the bicentenary of the birth of engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Marks the 300th anniversary of the Acts of Union of 1707 that united the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland. The design features interlocking gears with the crosses of St George and St Andrew. Mintage figures for the circulating version are not separately published. Worth face value in circulated condition.
Marks the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act 1807, which prohibited the trade of enslaved people in the British Empire. The design features a broken chain with the inscription AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER, taken from the famous Wedgwood medallion of the abolitionist movement. Mintage: 8,445,000. Worth face value in circulated condition.
Marks the centenary of the 1908 Summer Olympics, held in London. The design features athletes in Edwardian sporting attire within a circular motif. Mintage: 910,000. Typically worth £4-£5 in circulated condition due to its relatively low mintage.
Marks the handover of the Olympic Games from Beijing 2008 to London 2012, in keeping with Olympic tradition. The design features the Olympic rings with a stylised handover motif. Mintage: 918,000. Typically worth £4-£5 in circulated condition.
Marks the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species. The design features a portrait of Darwin alongside a chimpanzee, taken from the naturalist's own sketches. Mintage: 3,903,000. Typically worth around £2.50-£3 in circulated condition.
Marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scottish poet Robert Burns, whose works include Auld Lang Syne and To a Mouse. The design features a quill pen and an open book with the opening lines of A Man's A Man For A' That. Mintage: 3,253,000. Typically worth around £2.50-£3 in circulated condition.
Marks the centenary of the death of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. The design features an image of Nightingale with a lamp - the image that gave rise to her popular name, "The Lady with the Lamp". Mintage: 6,175,000. Worth face value in circulated condition.
Issued to mark the 500th anniversary of the launch of Henry VIII's warship Mary Rose in 1511. The design features an engraving of the ship in full sail. Mintage: 1,040,000. Typically worth £4-£5 in circulated condition.
Marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible in 1611, commissioned by King James I and still one of the most widely read works in the English language. The design features an open Bible surrounded by a decorative border. Mintage: 975,000. Typically worth £4-£5 in circulated condition.
Marks the bicentenary of the birth of novelist Charles Dickens, whose works include Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations. The design features a portrait of Dickens surrounded by characters from his novels. Mintage: 8,190,000. Worth face value in circulated condition.
Marks the handover of the Olympic Games from London 2012 to Rio de Janeiro 2016. The design features the Olympic rings with a handover motif. Mintage: 845,000. Typically worth £5-£6 in circulated condition, making it one of the scarcer post-2009 commemoratives.
One of two coins issued to mark the 150th anniversary of the London Underground, the world's first underground railway. This design features a London Underground train in a tunnel. Mintage: 1,690,000. Typically worth £3-£4 in circulated condition.
The companion piece to the Train design, featuring the iconic London Underground roundel - one of the most recognisable transport logos in the world, designed by Edward Johnston in 1916. Mintage: 1,560,000. Typically worth £3-£4 in circulated condition.
Marks the 350th anniversary of the first Guinea, a gold coin introduced in 1663 that became the basis for the informal British unit of 21 shillings still used in some professional contexts today. The design references the original Guinea coinage. Mintage: 2,990,000. Worth face value in circulated condition.
Marks the 500th anniversary of Trinity House, the lighthouse authority responsible for maritime safety around England, Wales, and the Channel Islands. The design features a lighthouse and the Trinity House crest. Mintage: 3,705,000. Worth face value in circulated condition.
The first of a series of coins marking the centenary of the First World War, featuring a recruitment poster design referencing the famous Kitchener "Your Country Needs You" imagery. This is the first of the WW1 centenary series. Mintage figures not separately published. Worth face value in circulated condition.
Marks the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta in 1215 - the charter of rights that laid the foundations for constitutional law in England and, by extension, many democracies worldwide. The design features the Magna Carta document. Mintage: 1,495,000. Typically worth £2.75-£3.50 in circulated condition.
The second in the WW1 centenary series, honouring the Royal Navy's role in the conflict. The design features a naval vessel and commemorative imagery of the war at sea. Typically worth £3-£4 in circulated condition.
Marks the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London of 1666, which destroyed much of the medieval city. The design features a stylised image of the fire with the Tower of London visible. Mintage: 1,625,000. Typically worth £2.50-£3 in circulated condition.
The third in the WW1 centenary series, honouring the British Army's role in the conflict. Mintage: 9,550,000. Worth face value in circulated condition.
One of three coins issued to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. This coin, representing the history plays, features a crown and a sword - imagery from plays such as Henry V and Richard III. Mintage: 5,655,000. Worth face value in circulated condition.
Representing the comedies, this coin features a jester's mask alongside a quill - imagery evoking plays such as A Midsummer Night's Dream and Much Ado About Nothing. Mintage: 4,355,000. Worth face value in circulated condition.
Representing the tragedies, this coin features a skull and a rose - imagery synonymous with plays such as Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. Mintage: 4,615,000. Worth face value in circulated condition.
Since 2017, The Royal Mint has continued to issue new £2 coin designs, but none have entered general circulation. All post-2016 £2 coins - including issues marking subjects such as Jane Austen, Frankenstein, the RAF Centenary, Agatha Christie, and others - were produced for collectors in Brilliant Uncirculated or proof quality only. Their circulation mintage is zero and they will not be found in change.
If you come across a £2 coin bearing a post-2016 date or a design not listed in this guide, it is likely a collector issue removed from its packaging. It does not have any special value as a circulating rarity.
Before the bi-metallic £2 was introduced, The Royal Mint issued seven commemorative £2 coins in single-metal nickel-brass between 1986 and 1996. These were struck for special occasions rather than for everyday use - they are heavier than modern £2 coins and single-coloured throughout. They remain legal tender at face value but are rarely seen in circulation today.
The seven issues were:
These coins are not commonly found and are collectible in their own right, though generally modest in value.
All £2 coins carry an inscription around their edge. On Technology-reverse definitives and many early commemoratives this reads STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS; on Britannia-reverse definitives it reads QUATUOR MARIA VINDICO. Commemorative issues often carry their own unique edge inscriptions - for example, the Abolition of the Slave Trade coin carries AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER.
The edge lettering can appear either way up relative to the coin's face - this is completely normal and is a result of the coin striking process. An upside-down edge inscription is not an error and does not affect the coin's value.
Counterfeit £2 coins do circulate in the UK. Because the coin's bi-metallic construction is complex to replicate, most fakes are detectable with a simple check. Here is what to look for:
On a genuine £2 coin, the join between the gold-coloured outer ring and the silver-coloured inner disc is smooth and tight, with a raised ridge on both faces where the two metals meet. On fakes the join is often imprecise, uneven, or absent - the disc may wobble or the two parts may be separating.
A genuine £2 coin weighs 12.00g. Many fakes are lighter. A postal or jeweller's scale accurate to 0.1g is sufficient to check this.
Genuine coins have crisp, well-defined detail on both faces. Fakes often look slightly flat or blurred, particularly in areas of fine engraving.
Check that the edge inscription is present, correctly formed, and complete. On fakes the lettering is sometimes shallow, poorly defined, or missing letters.
The outer ring should be a clear, warm gold-yellow. If the coin looks unusually dull, brassy, or uniform in colour across both metals, treat it with caution.
The Britannia Coin Company buys and sells circulating UK £2 coins, including scarcer issues such as the Commonwealth Games set and the low-mintage Olympic handover coins. We can provide valuations for any coins you bring to us and offer fair prices based on current market conditions.
For common £2 coins in circulated condition we pay face value. For scarcer issues we pay above face value in line with the secondary market. If you have a collection of £2 coins and are unsure which are worth more than face value, bring them along and we will go through them with you.
Visit us at 29 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AA, call 01793 205 007 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm), or get in touch via our website at britanniacoincompany.com.