Two Pounds 1999 Rugby World Cup, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

The bi-metallic £2 coin is the largest circulating coin denomination of the Pound Sterling. It was introduced in 1998 (earlier two pound coins were made of Nickel brass, were intended as commemorative, and did not circulate much). Being bi-metallic means that the coin comprises two separate components of differing alloys - a Nickel-Brass outer ring with inner circle of CuproNickel.

The Royal Mint maintains a "definitive" style of the £2 issued annually, as well as a large variety of one-year circulating commemorative types and some Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT) £2 coins for collectors. Between 1997 and 2015, the definitive type was the Technology type £2, which was then changed to the Britannia type £2.

The one-year type coins celebrate important anniversaries or people, as well as iconic aspects of British culture and history.

This circulating commemorative £2 coins was issued to mark the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

In 1999 the world’s finest rugby-playing nations came together in the spirit of competition to battle for the Wed Ellis Cup in the finals of the Rugby World Cup. Hosted by the Welsh Rugby Union, the matches were played at venues throughout the five nations of England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Ron Dutton has captured the pulsating atmosphere, movement, sound and colour of the great game of rugby, and the enthusiasm of its spectators, on the reverse of the 1999 £2 coin struck to commemorate this sporting event.

£2 coins issued in 1999 have now been in circulation for 26 years.