Two Pounds 1994 Bank of England, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

The obverse of the coin shows the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right (her effigy known as the "Third Portrait"). The Queen is wearing the royal diadem which she used to wear on her way to and from the State Opening of Parliament, a pearl necklace and earrings.

Incuse in tiny letters on the neck truncation, the designer's initials RDM (for Raphael David Maklouf).

Around, the monarch's legend: ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F · D · TWO POUNDS ·. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.

Note that the value and denomination, · TWO POUNDS ·, are on the obverse.

At centre, the original Corporate Seal of the Bank of England featuring the symbolic figure of Britannia, seated, right hand holding a spear and resting on a shield carrying the cross of the flag of England (note: not the flag of the United Kingdom, which also includes the cross of St Andrew for Scotland, as depicted on modern coins), left hand extended and holding an olive branch, looking on "a pile of money". The figure of Britannia had appeared on the coins (farthings and half pennies) of Charles II and symbolises the power and might of Great Britain.

Above Britannia, Royal Cypher of "W&M" (interlaced letters W and M representing King William III and Queen Mary II); above that, the Imperial Crown. To left and right, four representations of coins (with shield and cross visible, as on earlier English coinage).

To the left of the Seal, the year when the Bank was founded, 1694; to the right, the date of issue 1994; around below, Bank of England in the cursive script familiar from British banknotes.

The Royal Charter creating the Bank of England was granted by King William and Queen Mary on 27 July 1694 and the Bank opened for business shortly afterwards.

The edge inscription SIC VOS NON VOBIS were the words Vergil wrote on the wall when Bathyllus, another poet, had plagiarized his work. It can be translated as "Thus you labour but not for yourselves". It was adopted as a motto by William Paterson, an entrepreneur closely associated with the establishment of the Bank.