English Gold Coins:

2 Pound Coin

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This page addresses the gold two pound coins that have been issued since 1980. For double sovereigns (i.e. gold 2 pound coins pre-1980) please go here - double sovereign.

A quick recap of the double sovereign page: Prior to 1980, two pound gold coins / double sovereigns were issued in presentation as proofs - although some of these coins did enter circulation. Most of the double sovereigns made 1823-1980, with the exception of 1824, 1825, 1826, and 1831, featured the famous reverse design by Benedetto Pistrucci of St. George and the Dragon. [1]

After the 1937 gold proof double sovereign of George V, 1937, there was no coin with the value of two pounds issued for a long time. A 1953 gold proof was created, however these were not released to the public and the few specimens that exist are extremely valuable - listed in Coincraft as £75,000.

Fast forward to 1980: Gold proof two pound coins begin to be issued almost every year. Note that many of these coins (from 1986 onwards), especially the "commemorative" issues (i.e. non-George and Dragon) were identical versions, in gold, of cupro-nickel two pound coins that formed part of the everyday currency. More than one commemorative coin was issued in some years, as well as the regular "George and Dragon" variety. Proofs in silver of some of these coins were also minted and these of course are much less expensive. Here is a chart of the gold proof two pound coins from 1980 onwards:

Gold Two Pound Coins From 1980 Onwards

Year:	Obverse Design:	Reverse Design:	Number Minted:	Notes:
1980	QE2 Second Portrait	George and Dragon	10,000	Sold in Royal Mint cased proof sets
1982	QE2 Second Portrait	George and Dragon	2,500	Sold in Royal Mint cased proof sets
1983	QE2 Second Portrait	George and Dragon	12,500	Includes those sold in sets
1985	QE2 Third Portrait	George and Dragon	5,849	Sold in Royal Mint cased proof sets
1986	QE2 Third Portrait	Thistle encircled by Laurel wreath, superimposed on St. Andrew's Cross.	3,277	Edge Inscription - "XIII COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCOTLAND 1986"
1987	QE2 Third Portrait	George and Dragon	1,801	Sold in Royal Mint cased proof sets
1988	QE2 Third Portrait	George and Dragon	1,551	Sold in Royal Mint cased proof sets
1989	500th Anniversary of the Sovereign, QE2 on Throne	Rose, Royal Arms, Crown, "Lombardic Font" 500th Anniversary design	2,000	Sold in Royal Mint cased proof sets
1990	QE2 Third Portrait	George and Dragon	716	Sold in Royal Mint cased proof sets
1991	QE2 Third Portrait	George and Dragon	620	Sold in Royal Mint cased proof sets
1992	QE2 Third Portrait	George and Dragon	476	Sold in Royal Mint cased proof sets
1993	QE2 Third Portrait	George and Dragon	414	Sold in Royal Mint cased proof sets
1993	QE2 Third Portrait	Bank of England 1694-1994	1000 including approx 300 "Error" obverse die which omits the words "TWO POUNDS"	Sold in Royal Mint cased proof sets
1995	QE2 Third Portrait	Dove of Peace	2,500	Edge inscription "1945 IN PEACE GOODWILL 1995"
1995	QE2 Third Portrait	Flags of United Nations + number 50	17,500	Edge inscription "NATIONS UNITED FOR PEACE 1945-1995"
1996	QE2 Third Portrait	George and Dragon		Sold in Royal Mint cased proof sets
1996	QE2 Third Portrait	Football + 1996	2,098	Edge inscription "TENTH EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP"
1997	QE2 Third Portrait	Four concentric circles:Iron age, Industrial revolution, silicon chip, internet.	2,482	Edge inscription "STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS"
1998	QE2 Fourth Portrait	George and Dragon
1999	QE2 Fourth Portrait	Rugby Ball and stadium	311
2000	QE2 Fourth Portrait	George and Dragon
2001	QE2 Fourth Portrait	Spark, Morse code radio waves emanating	1,658	(S. 4572) Edge inscription: "WIRELESS BRIDGES THE ATLANTIC... MARCONI 1901"
2002	QE2 Fourth Portrait	Four concentric circles:Iron age, Industrial revolution, silicon chip, internet.		Issued as part of proof sets
2002	QE2 Fourth Portrait	Shield	8,000
2002	QE2 Fourth Portrait	Runner winning race XVII Commonwealth Games. Four flag variations - England, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland	315	(S. 4573-4576) Edge inscription: "SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP. MANCHESTER 2002"
2003	QE2 Fourth Portrait	George and Dragon
2003	QE2 Fourth Portrait	DNA Double Helix	1,500	(S.4577) Edge inscription - "DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID"
2004	QE2 Fourth Portrait	George and Dragon
2004	QE2 Fourth Portrait	Trevithick's Steam Engine - "R.TREVITHICK 1804 INVENTION INDUSTRY PROGRESS 2004"	1,500	Patterned edge.
2005	QE2 Fourth Portrait	New Design St. George and Dragon
2005	QE2 Fourth Portrait	1605-2005, circular arrangement of Mace, Crosier and Sword	914	Edge inscription - "REMEMBER REMEMBER THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER"
2005	QE2 Fourth Portrait	1945-2005 St. Paul's Cathedral with searchlights	1,578 single, 1,346 in sets	Edge inscription - "IN VICTORY MAGNANIMITY IN PEACE GOODWILL"
2006	QE2 Fourth Portrait	George and Dragon
2006	QE2 Fourth Portrait	Isambard Kingdom Brunel with bridge and wheel	1,500	Edge inscription - "1806-1859 ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL ENGINEER"
2006	QE2 Fourth Portrait	BRUNEL with roof of Paddington Station	1,500	Edge inscription - "SO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE"
2007	QE2 Fourth Portrait	George and Dragon
2007	QE2 Fourth Portrait	1707-2007 Centre circle divided into four quarters; portcullis in two circles, rose and thistle in alternate two.	750	Edge inscription - "UNITED INTO ONE KINGDOM"
2007	QE2 Fourth Portrait	1807 with broken chain, inscription "AN ACT FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE"	1,000	Edge inscription - "AM I NOT A MAN, AND A BROTHER"
2008	QE2 Fourth Portrait	Running track with "LONDON OLYMPIC CENTENARY"	3000	250 also included in boxed set with "handover" coin listed below.
2008	QE2 Fourth Portrait	BEIJING 2008 LONDON 2012 Olympic Games Handover Ceremony with two hands and flag.	1908	250 also included in boxed set with "centenary" coin listed above.
2009	QE2 Fourth Portrait	1809 DARWIN 2009 w/ Darwin and chimp facing each other	1,000
2009	QE2 Fourth Portrait	1759-1796 ROBERT BURNS "We'll tak a cup a'kindness yet, for auld lang syne."	1,000
2010	QE2 Fourth Portrait	"1820 FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE 1910" with hands in center circle	1,000
2011	QE2 Fourth Portrait	King James Bible 1611-2011 "In the beginning was the Word" in Gothic type	1,000	Red gold outer circle and yellow gold inner circle. Edge inscription - "THE AUTHORISED VERSION"
2011	QE2 Fourth Portrait	"The Mary Rose" with image of the ship	1,511	Edge inscription - "YOUR NOBLEST SHIPPE 1511" 22ct gold, 15.976g, 28.40mm
2012	QE2 Fourth Portrait	1812-1870 Charles Dickens profile made from Dickens' book titles	850	Edge inscription "SOMETHING WILL TURN UP"

References:

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_pounds_(British_gold_coin)
Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins (1998 ed.)
[2] Spink - Coins of England and the United Kingdom
[3] http://www.taxfreegold.co.uk/fivepoundsinfo.html