Two Pounds 2019 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 second in a three-coin series issued in three consecutive years.

The Royal Mint says:
"In 1769 a rare astronomical event was due to take place - the Transit of Venus. Captain Cook and his crew left Rio De Janeiro bound for Tahiti. Here they built an observatory to study this phenomenon. Scientists hoped these studies would finally enable them to calculate the size of the Solar System. With his work on the island complete, Cook turned his attention to the sealed orders in his possession. His next mission was revealed. It was time to start the search for the fabled southern continent that scholars had speculated about for centuries.

As we mark 250 years since Cook's time in Tahiti, The Royal Mint continues its celebration of his great voyage with the second of three coins. Artist Gary Breeze commemorates Captain Cook’s time at Tahiti in 1769, with a design featuring the mast of the HM Bark Endeavour below a celestial image of the Transit of Venus. Finished to Brilliant Uncirculated standard, superior to the coins in your change, this £2 coin commemorates the life and legacy of the last of the great sea explorers."

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.