Two Pounds 2018 Captain Cook, 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; the outer ring of the coins is made of Nickel-Brass (76% copper, 4% nickel, 20% zinc) and the inner circle is CuproNickel (75% copper, 25% nickel).

The Royal Mint maintains a "definitive" style of the £2 issued annually, as well as a large variety of one-year circulating commemorative types.

In 2017, the mint also started issuing some Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT) £2 coins for collectors. These are included in the annual mint sets, but are not released into general circulation. Their themes celebrate important anniversaries or people, as well as iconic aspects of British culture and history.

This £2 coin commemorates 250 years since the first round-the-world voyage of Captain Cook (1768 - 1771) and is the first in a three-coin series issued in three consecutive years.

The Royal Mint says:
"In August 1768, Captain James Cook and his crew set sail on HM Bark Endeavour, commencing what would become a three-year voyage of discovery. It was the first of three such journeys for the intrepid pioneer, during which he would circumnavigate the world twice. His spirit of adventure helped to fill in the blanks on the world map and improve our knowledge of new places, peoples, plants and even other planets.

250 years later, The Royal Mint invites you to join us on a three-year adventure through history in coins. A series of three £2 coins, released each year from 2018 to 2020, will explore Captain Cook’s voyage of discovery in real time. The coins carry three intriguing designs by sculptor Gary Breeze, which combine to create a single, complete image that tells the story of Captain Cook’s voyage.

250 years ago, the spirit of adventure of a determined man from a humble background greatly expanded our scientific and cultural understanding of the world. Captain James Cook’s first voyage of discovery began on 25 August 1768 when he set sail from Plymouth aboard HM Bark Endeavour. His main objective was to record people, places and plants while also improving our understanding of a world beyond our own by observing the Transit of Venus from Tahiti. But he also carried a second set of orders in a sealed envelope that was not to be opened until the observation from Tahiti had been completed."

The edge inscription OCEANI INVESTIGATOR ACERRIMVS means, in Latin, "the most intrepid investigator of the seas)".

These £2 coins were struck in various collector formats but none were issued into general circulation.