Two Pounds 2018 RAF Centenary - Sea King, 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 fourth of five RAF coins issued in 2018 and features on the reverse a Sea King rescue helicopter.

The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines, British-made anti-submarine warfare systems and a fully computerised flight control system. The Sea King was primarily designed for performing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions. A Sea King variant was adapted by Westland as troop transport known as the Commando. In British service, the Westland Sea King provided a wide range of services in both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. As well as wartime roles in the Falklands War, the Gulf War, the Balkans conflict, the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War, the Sea King is perhaps most well known in its capacity as a Royal Navy Search and Rescue (red and grey livery) and RAF Search and Rescue Force (yellow livery) helicopter - the HAR3 variant as shown on the coin. The Sea King was also adapted to meet the Royal Navy's requirement for a ship-based airborne early warning platform.

The Royal Mint says:
"Formed in the early days of aviation, today the Royal Air Force is recognised all over the world for its capability, courage and innovation. 100 years on from its formation, The Royal Mint has struck an exciting five-coin series, released throughout 2018, to commemorate this milestone. The penultimate aircraft featured in the series, the powerful Sea King, reminds us of the life-saving work the RAF carries out in the most extreme situations.

A beacon of hope to those in need who catch a glimpse of the bright yellow helicopter, artists Richard and Neil Talbot have captured the Sea King in action on the reverse of this 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.