2022 William Hershel: 01 Southern Constellation of Apus – Bird of Paradise £2 BU

The release of a brand new £2 coin series to commemorate 200 years since the death of British Astronomer Sir William Herschel.

Sir William Frederick Herschel was a German-born British astronomer who emigrated from Germany to Great Britain at the age of 19. Herschel constructed the first large telescope in 1774, after which he spent nine years carrying out sky surveys to investigate double stars. While making observations, he made note of a new object which, after weeks of verification, was confirmed as a new planet which was given the name Uranus, after the Greek God of the sky.

The discovery brought him overnight fame and he was appointed Court Astronomer and knighted by King George III and grants were provided for the construction of new telescopes.

The design features the Apus Constellation which is represented by a Bird of Paradise, the image of which is depicted on the design. The constellation itself is shown beneath the bird and a compass as it would read in Antarctica. The obverse of the coin features an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II produced exclusively by Pobjoy Mint.