A work of art…the 2024 National Gallery £2
There’s one building in London that has a certain grandeur, a place that holds over 2,300 works of art dating back to the 13th century…
I am of course talking about the National Gallery, and to mark the gallery’s 200th anniversary, The Royal Mint have issued a new UK £2 coin!
Secure your 2024 UK National Gallery £2 >>
You might recognize this coin, because it was actually part of the 2024 Annual Coin Set issued earlier this year, but it’s now been individually released. It’s also the first individually issued £2 coin of 2024!
Where it all began…
The year is 1824, and recently deceased banker John Julius Angerstein’s collection of 38 historical paintings is looking for a new home. In an initiative led by politician George Agar Ellis, the government agreed to purchase the art and display it in the newly opened National Gallery, situated in Angerstein’s former townhouse on Pall Mall.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Over the next 10 years, the gallery acquired more and more paintings until eventually due to overcrowding and national embarrassment when compared to the likes of the Louvre, relocation was on the cards. In 1832, construction began on the Trafalgar Square site where the gallery resides today.
Credit: Morio, via Wikimedia Commons
A beacon of artistic inspiration
The National Gallery has been a beacon of artistic inspiration for two whole centuries, and its rich history is perfectly represented on this new £2 coin. The design showcases the iconic façade of the National Gallery building, paired with the inscription ‘200 years of the National Gallery’, a tribute to the milestone anniversary and the countless masterpieces housed within its walls.
Art enthusiasts will know that the National Gallery is home to some of the world’s most treasured works of art, from the tranquillity of Monet’s Water Lily Pond, to the vibrant hues of Vincent Van Gough’s Sunflowers. And you can own a piece of its artistic history by adding the National Gallery £2 to your collection.
Have you been to the National Gallery? What was your favourite piece of art you saw there? Let us know in the comments!
Own a piece of artistic history
The National Gallery is definitely worthy of a commemorative issue, however I think the design on this £2 is simplistic and lacks much artistic imagination. A good example of the Royal Mint churning out special coins for their profits, without contributing to numismatist culture.
I was up there yesterday for the new Caravaggio exhibit but my favourite paintings are; The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the younger because of the hidden/moving skull and The Fighting Temeraire by JMW Turner…purely because it’s on money 😏😂
Oh wow! Those are great ones 🙂
Kate