2015 First World War Centenary Royal Navy Circulating £2

Description

This £2 coin is the second in a 5-coin series remembering the First World War and celebrates the efforts of the Royal Navy and their contribution to the war effort.

With a mintage of just 650,000 this claims joint 3rd place in mintage-based rarity tables for circulating £2 coins, so finding one in your change might be harder than many other coins.

The reverse is created by David Rowlands, featuring a design based on HMS Royal Oak, one of five revenge-class battleships built for the Royal Navy during the First World War, and first deployed in 1916. All the coins struck for circulation feature the 5th portrait of the Queen on the obverse, crafted by Jody Clark.

Interestingly, The Royal Mint released 100 coins early in 2015 at the HMS Belfast visitors’ centre. These featured the 4th portrait, by Ian Rank-Broadley, and were given in change to visitors in the gift shop.