Two Pounds 2018 RAF Centenary - Spitfire, 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 the Centenary (100th anniversary) of the Royal Air Force (RAF), which was founded in 1918. It is the second of five RAF coins issued in 2018 and features on the reverse a Spitfire fighter air-plane.

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, using several wing configurations, and it was produced in greater numbers than any other British aircraft. It was also the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the war. The reverse design featuring these planes was created by brothers Richard and Neil Talbot.

The Royal Mint says:
"The graceful but deadly Spitfire is simply unmistakable, an iconic symbol of the battle for the skies over Britain in the Second World War. As part of the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Royal Air Force, the famous Spitfire appears on an official UK £2 coin."

The motto of the Royal Air Force "Per Ardua Ad Astra", meaning "Through Adversity to the Stars" captures the courage and spirit of both the Royal Air Force and the exceptional people who have pioneered in aviation since 1918; it is inscribed on the edge of the coin.

Unlike the early coins in the series, these £2 coins were struck in various collector formats but none were issued into general circulation.