£2 - The British Two Pounds. Part 2, Bimetallic issues

Started by UK Decimal +, November 25, 2009, 12:48:37 AM

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UK Decimal +

£2 - The British Two Pounds.   Part 2, Bimetallic issues

The £2 Two Pounds was introduced as commemorative issues in 1986 as a monometallic coin.   In 1997 it became a normal circulation issue and was re-designed as a bimetallic coin, many issues of which are of a commemorative nature.   All varieties are legal tender.

Proof etc. details will be given where available.   As usual, reference to 'Circulation' refers to the standard of production and not the method of distribution.   Quantities are mainly from the Royal Mint website.

If anyone is able to give any additional information (with a source if possible), I will add it in the appropriate place.

Part 1 on the monometallic issues will follow as soon as I am able to illustrate it fully.

Bill
Ilford, Essex, near London, England.

People look for problems and complain.   Engineers find solutions but people still complain.

UK Decimal +

Details common to all issues

All the £2 bimetallic coins have common dimensions which need only be quoted once.

Metal - Outer Nickel-Brass (76% copper, 4% nickel, 20% zinc), Inner Cupro-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel)
Diameter 28.4mm
Weight 12.0g
Thickness 2.50mm

First will be the 'Technology' design which has been struck for normal circulation from 1997 until at least 2009 and is listed for 2010.   'Technology' has to be split into two sections due to a revised obverse from 1998.

Commemorative issues will then follow in date order.

Bill.
Ilford, Essex, near London, England.

People look for problems and complain.   Engineers find solutions but people still complain.

UK Decimal +

1997  Technology

Obverse by Raphael Maklouf
Reverse by Bruce Rushin depicts, in four concentric circles, mankind's industrial and technological progress from the Iron Age to the Internet
Edge grained with inscription STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

Quoting from the Royal Mint:-
"A new design was required for the reverse and it was decided to proceed by way of a competition open to members of the general public. 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 the Queen 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 the Queen 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 the Queen 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, Since millions of these coins were minted this is simply not the case."

1997   Circulation 13,734,625.  BU issued.  Proof issued.  Silver Proof issued.  Silver Proof Piedfort issued.  Gold Proof (red gold outer and yellow gold inner) issued.

Bill.
Ilford, Essex, near London, England.

People look for problems and complain.   Engineers find solutions but people still complain.

UK Decimal +

1998 to 2010 Technology

Obverse by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
Reverse by Bruce Rushin depicts, in four concentric circles, mankind's industrial and technological progress from the Iron Age to the Internet (for full details see 1997 issue)
Edge grained with inscription STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

1998  Circulation 91,110,375.  BU issued.  Proof issued.  Silver Proof issued.  Silver Proof Piedfort issued.
1999  Circulation 33,719,000.
2000  Circulation 25,770,000.  BU issued.  Proof issued.  Silver Proof issued.  Gold Proof issued.
2001  Circulation 34,984,750.  BU issued.  Proof issued.
2002  Circulation 13,024,750.  BU issued.  Proof issued.
2003  Circulation 17,531,250.  BU issued.  Proof issued.
2004  Circulation 11,981,500.  BU issued.  Proof issued.
2005  Circulation  3,837,250.  BU issued.  Proof issued.
2006  Circulation 16,715,000.  Proof issued.
2007  Circulation 10,270,000.  BU issued.  Proof issued.
2008  Circulation 15,346,000.  BU issued.  Proof issued.
2009  To be advised (none yet reported).  BU issued as I have one in a set, and Proof advertised in sets.
2010  Unknown.  BU and Proof advertised in sets.

The 2008 version is illustrated.

Bill.
Ilford, Essex, near London, England.

People look for problems and complain.   Engineers find solutions but people still complain.

UK Decimal +

1999 4th Rugby World Cup

The first bimetallic 'special' appeared in 1999 to commemorate the 4th Rugby World Cup for which Wales was the host nation.

Obverse by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
Reverse depicts a stadium, on which is superimposed a rugby ball and goalpost. The date '1999' above separated by goal-posts from the value 'TWO POUNDS' below.   Designed by Ron Dutton
Edge grained with inscription RUGBY WORLD CUP 1999

1999  Circulation 4,933,000.  BU issued.  Silver proof with gold plated ring issued.  Silver proof Piedfort with hologram issued.  Gold proof issued.
Ilford, Essex, near London, England.

People look for problems and complain.   Engineers find solutions but people still complain.

UK Decimal +

2001 Marconi Transatlantic 100

A 'special' was issued in 2001 to commemorate the centenary of the first transatlantic radio message by Guglielmo Marconi which was transmitted from Poldhu in Cornwall and received at St John's in Newfoundland, in 1901.   It consisted of the Morse code letter 'S' (•••).

Obverse by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
Reverse depicts radio waves decorating 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

2001  Circulation 4,558,000.  BU issued.  Proof issued.  Silver proof with gold plated ring issued.  Silver proof Piedfort issued.  Gold proof issued.
Ilford, Essex, near London, England.

People look for problems and complain.   Engineers find solutions but people still complain.

UK Decimal +

2002 Commonwealth Games (4 varieties)

A series of four 'specials' was issued in 2002 to commemorate the XVII Commonwealth Games which were held in Manchester.   The four differed only in the national flag shown in a circle on the reverse, there being versions for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.  .

Obverse by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
Reverse depicts stylised figure of an athlete holding a banner and the inscription XVII Commonwealth Games 2002 designed by Matthew Bonaccorsi
Edge grained with the lettering SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP, MANCHESTER 2002

2002 England    Circulation  650,500.
2002 N.Ireland  Circulation  458,500.
2002 Scotland  Circulation  771,750.
2002 Wales      Circulation  588,500.
They were also issued in sets of four to higher standard:  BU issued.  Proof issued.  Silver proof issued.  Silver proof Piedfort issued.  Gold proof issued.

The England and Scotland variations only are illustrated (as I don't have examples of the other two).
Ilford, Essex, near London, England.

People look for problems and complain.   Engineers find solutions but people still complain.

UK Decimal +

2003 DNA Double Helix

The 'special' for 2003 commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the discovery of DNA.

Obverse by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
Reverse depicts 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
Edge grained with the lettering DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID

2003  Circulation 4,299,000.  BU issued.  Proof issued.  Silver proof with gold plated ring issued.  Silver proof Piedfort issued.  Gold proof issued.
Ilford, Essex, near London, England.

People look for problems and complain.   Engineers find solutions but people still complain.

UK Decimal +

2004 Trevithick Steam Locomotive 200

This commemorates the first successful steam railway locomotive, designed by Richard Trevithick, a Cornishman, in 1804.   Although the locomotive was successful it was too heavy for the track then in use and development was therefore slow over the next twenty years.

Obverse by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
Reverse depicts a representation of a steam locomotive engine with the words 'TWO POUNDS' above and inside a cog wheel, the words R.TREVITHICK 1804 INVENTION INDUSTRY PROGRESS 2004 as a circumscription designed by Robert Lowe
Edge grained with an incuse railway line motif.

2004  Circulation 5,004,500.  BU issued.  Proof issued.  Silver BU issued.  Silver proof with gold plated ring issued.  Silver proof Piedfort issued.  Gold proof issued.

Bill.
Ilford, Essex, near London, England.

People look for problems and complain.   Engineers find solutions but people still complain.

UK Decimal +

2005 Gunpowder Plot 400

Issued to commemorate the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.

Obverse by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
Reverse depicts an arrangement of crossiers, maces and swords surrounded by stars and the dates 1605 & 2005. Denomination TWO POUNDS below. Designed by Peter Forster
Edge grained with the wording REMEMBER REMEMBER FIFTH OF NOVEMBER.

2005  Circulation 5,140,500.  BU issued.  Proof issued.  Silver proof issued.  Silver proof Piedfort issued.  Gold proof issued.

Bill.
Ilford, Essex, near London, England.

People look for problems and complain.   Engineers find solutions but people still complain.

Overlord

Ah, I remember the technology series. Here is an interesting artilcle on the 'locked gears'. (You will need to scroll down a bit.)

Bimat

I'm enjoying this complete thread a lot.Thanks a lot for all these efforts,Bill.

BTW, I have asked this question somewhere else too,but I'm repeating it here again (for a more specific answer).Catalog says that Varieties exist in 1999 commemorative (Rugby world cup).Any idea what are these varieties exactly??

Aditya
It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. -J. K. Rowling.

UK Decimal +

#12
Quote from: numismatica on November 26, 2009, 04:45:16 PM
Catalog says that Varieties exist in 1999 commemorative (Rugby world cup).Any idea what are these varieties exactly??

Aditya

I've never heard of this before, so any information that anyone can give will be appreciated.

As 1999 was the first year that a bimetallic £2 commemorative was issued, perhaps the varieties refer to 'Technology' and 'Rugby'?

Bill.

EDIT: Word 'commemorative' added.
Ilford, Essex, near London, England.

People look for problems and complain.   Engineers find solutions but people still complain.

Bimat

Quote from: UK Decimal + on November 26, 2009, 05:58:48 PM
As 1999 was the first year that a bimetallic £2 was issued, perhaps the varieties refer to 'Technology' and 'Rugby'?
See my original post here.

Under the heading KM# 999 (catalog number for 1999 CC),there is a note at the bottom-Varieties Exist,at the most it can be 'Type A' and 'Type B' as one of our Ex-member said,but in that case,such a variety will exist in every 2 Pound coin,as Christian said.And SCWC never lists/mentions type A and type B coins as variants..

Aditya
It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. -J. K. Rowling.

UK Decimal +

OK, this is the correct place to ask about it.   I don't have the catalogues mentioned but I'll put it as a direct question.   Let's hope that someone can give a definate answer.

QUESTION: Other than the inversion and angle of the edge lettering on the 1999 4th Rugby World Cup coins, are there any other differences?

Bill.
Ilford, Essex, near London, England.

People look for problems and complain.   Engineers find solutions but people still complain.