Coin | Two Pounds 2006 Technology |
---|
|
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; it also features a special security device at its centre.
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 this "Technology" type representing the advances made in industrial and technological fields.
In 2015, the new Britannia type two pounds coin was launched and became the definitive type of the denomination. The Technology Two Pounds continue to circulate and are still legal tender.
£2 coins issued in 2006 have now been in circulation for 18 years.
|
|
Obverse | |
The obverse of the coins shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend: ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·. Translated ffrom Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.
|
|
|
Reverse | |
Representing the advances made in industrial and technological fields, the reverse design spirals outward from the Iron Age core, to the Industrial era, the age of the computer and finally ends with the outer ring symbolising the Internet. The central area contains a latent feature which, when tilted, transforms the image of four separate scrolls into an image of eight intertwined scrolls.
Around above, the value and denomination in words: TWO POUNDS; around below, the date: 2006.
The designer's initials BR (for Bruce Rushin) are incuse in an ornament in the right part of the second ring. |
|
Reverse Inscription |
TWO POUNDS 2006 |
---|
|
Edge | Milled and inscribed (incuse lettering) | Edge Inscription | STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS |
|
Notes | The coin was not included in the Brilliant Uncirculated mint sets of the year, which had the two Brunel commemoratives instead.
Mintage figure comprised of: 16,715,000 coins released into circulation 37,689 proofs |
---|
|