Posts Tagged ‘Two Pounds’
2018’s most popular RAF £2 revealed!
The votes are in and you have chosen your favourite 2018 RAF £2 coin!
Following the reveal of the five brand new £2 coins issued by The Royal Mint this year to commemorate the Centenary of the Royal Air Force, we asked Change Checkers to vote for their favourite design on our previous blog introducing the new coins
Each stunning design features an iconic RAF aircraft, from the modern F35 Lightning to the famous Spitfire, with the first coin in the series depicting the badge of the RAF to celebrate the Royal Air Force as a whole.
Our poll has now closed, and I do have to say that the results were very close! But we can now reveal that the most popular RAF £2 coin design has been chosen and first place goes to the magnificent Sea King, receiving just over 28% of your votes.
1. Sea King
This is the fourth coin in the RAF series and although it’s available to pre-order now, it will be officially released in August for those of you looking to add the Sea King £2 to your collection.
Known as the ‘angel on our shoulders’, the Sea King helicopter acted exclusively in a search and rescue role from 1978, with the final mission taking place on the 4th of October 2015.
In 2012, Prince William himself flew a Sea King during a training exercise which ended in a rescue mission when two girls were swept out to sea in a riptide.
2. Spitfire
Coming in a very close second is one of the most famous planes ever built, the Supermarine Spitfire.
This is the second coin in the series and is available now to add to your collection. The coin beautifully depicts the iconic image of the Spitfire, designed by Reginald Mitchell.
First flying in 1936, this short range interceptor aircraft was known as the backbone of the RAF Fighter Command and was much loved amongst its pilots.
3. Vulcan
In third place is the legendary Vulcan bomber, the third coin in the RAF series, which is also available now to add to your collection.
This coin captures the instantly recognisable delta wing of the awesome Vulcan in flight, an exhilarating sight to behold.
Unmatched by any other bomber from the jet-age, this aircraft truly was the epitome of power during its service from 1956 until 1984.
4. Badge
Voted in fourth place is the RAF badge coin, the first coin in the series which has been available to order since the start of the year.
Royal Mint designer, Rhys Morgan created this coin based upon the badge which was originally used at the first Air Council meeting in 1918 and then registered in the 1920s with the Royal College of Arms.
Capturing the spirit of the RAF as a whole, this design symbolises the RAF’s resilience over the past century.
5. Lightning F35
Last, but by no means least, is the Lightning or F35 fighter jet, the fifth coin in the series. This coin can be pre-ordered now and will be officially released in September.
The F35 is the RAF’s newest aircraft which operates alongside the Typhoon, creating a potent mix of stealth and power.
Reviving Britain’s sea-bourne operations, these supersonic planes are set to be in service by December this year.
Overall, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who voted in our poll and helped us determine the most popular RAF £2 coin.
I think the design of the Sea King £2 perfectly captures the dedication of the RAF and this superb machine to ensure the safety of the people of the UK, and perhaps this is the reason why it has been voted as your favourite.
Pre order 2018’s most popular RAF £2 coin!
You can now pre-order the RAF Sea King £2 in certified Brilliant Uncirculated quality, protectively encapsulated to preserve its quality for generations to come.
Looking back at Britain’s much loved commemorative £2 coins…
The £2 coin was released in 1986, when this brand new denomination was introduced for the very first time.
The XIII Commonwealth Games was the first commemorative £2 coin and was issued for a non-royal event which gripped the nation. I can only imagine what an exciting time it must have been for people to discover these brand new coins which marked such a significant change in the UK’s commemorative coin issuing strategy.
These coins are considered rare due to the fact that although are legal tender, they were never common in everyday circulation and were struck mainly for collectors.
Six more single coloured £2 coins were struck over the next 10 years before the introduction of the fully circulating bi-metallic £2 denomination in 1998, which has seen 47 different designs in total so far.
So, let’s take a step back in time to 1986 and delve into the history of Britain’s commemorative £2 coins…
Commonwealth Games £2
Commonwealth Games. Mintage: 8,212,184. Years of issue: 1986
The 1986 Commonwealth Games £2 coin changed the face of UK commemorative coins, being the first of its denomination to be struck and the first British coin being issued to commemorate a sporting event. The thirteenth Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh in 1986, and are well remembered for being boycotted by 32 of the 59 eligible countries who did not agree with Britain’s sporting connections to South Africa during the Apartheid era. The reverse design features a thistle encircled by a laurel wreath over the cross of St Andrew.
Edge Inscription: XIII COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCOTLAND 1986
In 1689, Prince William and Mary accepted the Declaration of Rights prior to being offered the throne, which effectively shifted the balance of power from the Crown to Parliament and changed the course of British political history. These £2 coins were issued in 1989 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of this landmark Act. There were 2 versions of each coin issued – English and Scottish. The English reverse designs features the Crown of St Edward and the inscription ‘Tercentenary of the Claim of Right’ and ‘Tercentenary of the Bill of Rights’ respectively.
Bank of England £2
Bank of England. Mintage: 1,443,116. Years of issue: 1994
When William and Mary came to the throne in 1689, public finances were weak and the system of money and credit were in disarray. The Bank of England was founded in 1694 to act as the Government’s banker and debt manager, and its position as the centre of the UK’s financial system is maintained to this day. This commemorative £2 was issued in 1994 to mark its 300th anniversary. The reverse design features the original Corporate Seal of the Bank of England and distinctive Cypher of William and Mary.
Edge Inscriptions: SIC VOS NON VOBIS (thus you labour but not for yourselves)
Peace £2
Peace. Mintage: 4,394,566. Years of issue: 1995
This commemorative £2 was issued in 1995 to mark 50 years since the end of World War II. Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day, is the 8th May 1945 when armed forces formally accepted the surrender of Nazi Germany. Upon the news, jubilant crowds sang and danced in the streets of London, New York, Paris and Moscow. The reverse design by John Mills features a dove as “a symbol of aspiring peace; a calm, bountiful and optimistic image”.
Edge Inscriptions: 1945 IN PEACE GOODWILL 1995
United Nations £2
United Nations. Mintage: 1,668,575. Years of issue: 1995
The United Nations was established in the aftermath of World War II with the aim of maintaining world peace and to work for social progress. Since its creation in 1945, the UN has sought to resolve potential conflicts peacefully and fight against poverty, hunger and disease across the world. This commemorative £2 coin issued in 1995 marks 50 years since the inception of the UN, and features flags of nations accompanying the 50th anniversary symbol.
Football £2
Football. Mintage: 5,141,350. Years of issue: 1996
In 1996, England hosted the 10th European football championship and a commemorative £2 coin was struck in celebration of football. The reverse design resembles a football, and is accentuated by the unusual concave surface of the coin. The year of 1996 is prominent, and the sixteen small rings represent the sixteen teams competing in the tournament. The eventual winners of the competition were Germany who knocked out hosts England in the semi-finals.
Edge Inscriptions: TENTH EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Following a review of the United Kingdom’s coinage, the decision was made that a general-circulation £2 coin was needed and so the new bi-metallic coin was introduced on the 15th June 1998.
As the first bi-metallic coin ever used in the UK, the £2 yet again revolutionised Britain’s coinage and changed the face of these incredibly popular coins, allowing them to be both commemorative and circulated, which has had a great impact for collectors who are able to find these coins in their change.
Do you have any of the above £2 coins?
June 2018 Video Newsletter
Watch as Yasmin and Rachel discuss all the latest news from the world of change collecting:
You can also watch our June Video Newsletter on Instagram TV here >>