Two Pounds 2024 National Gallery, 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 200th Anniversary of The National Gallery of the United Kingdom.

The mint says about it:
Most famous for leading Britain to victory in the Second World War, Sir Winston Churchill was a statesman, writer, orator and leader who became one of the From its very beginnings, the National Gallery has successfully endeavoured to make art accessible to all. The collection, which now features more than 2,300 paintings, began as 38 pictures acquired from the financier John Julius Angerstein by parliament in April 1824.

Angerstein’s house at 100 Pall Mall initially served as a temporary gallery to display the pictures, until it was deemed insufficient in comparison to other national galleries, such as the Louvre in Paris. In 1838, Trafalgar Square, chosen for its central location, became the home of the new building and has remained so ever since.

The National Gallery has proudly stood as an epicentre for art since 1824, even weathering the bombings during the Second World War. The Gallery’s paintings were completely evacuated upon the outbreak of the war and the building went on to suffer nine direct bombings between October 1940 and April 1941.

Today, the National Gallery remains open to all, featuring works by British artists such as William Hogarth and John Constable, as well as famous works from esteemed international artists, including Rembrandt and Vincent van Gogh.

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