Why the FA Cup is “coin-worthy” in the first place

The FA Cup is one of those cultural institutions that has two different types of gravity. In one direction, it’s deeply local: a club, a ground, a specific set of people who know where the best pie is and which turnstile doesn’t squeak. In the other direction, it’s a global brand—highlights, history, and a format that fans understand instantly: knockout football, one bad day and you’re out. For a commemorative coin, that combination is perfect. You want a subject that can live in pockets and collections without needing a footnote. “150 Years of the FA Cup” is self-explanatory, and the trophy is instantly recognisable to anyone who’s ever watched the Final.

The Royal Mint’s own press announcement framed the issue as a landmark partnership with The FA and described the coin as a collectable £2 featuring the trophy at the heart of the design. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

The design: a trophy built for a £2 canvas

The UK £2 coin gives designers a fairly specific canvas: a bi-metallic look in circulation format (for standard issues) and a compact diameter that rewards bold, readable motifs. A trophy works brilliantly here because it has a clear silhouette and a natural hierarchy of detail—handles, lid, body, base—and it can be simplified or sharpened depending on finish.

Multiple collector sources identify the reverse designers as Matthew Dent and Christian Davies, with the trophy depicted in detail and the anniversary wording wrapping the design. This is a strong pairing: Dent is widely known among UK coin collectors for modern circulating designs, and the collaboration helps explain why the reverse feels “coin-native”—it reads cleanly at a glance but still has enough engraving interest to reward proof and premium strikes.

Obverse: the “last era” portrait for a milestone coin

The obverse is the fifth crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark—a portrait that defines late-era UK coinage for many collectors.

That matters because the FA Cup issue lives in a very particular moment in modern British numismatics: late 2022 sits at the hinge of a change of monarch, which can add “era character” to releases around that time. Even if you’re not collecting by reign, plenty of collectors do—so the obverse can quietly influence demand.

The headline moment: used for the Wembley coin toss

Here’s the deliciously theatrical part: the Royal Mint press release stated that the commemorative coin would be used for the coin toss at the 150th FA Cup Final at Wembley in May 2022. That’s not just marketing garnish—it’s a piece of story that collectors love because it ties the object (coin) to an actual ritual (coin toss) at a genuinely historic match.

In a world where many commemoratives feel “disconnected” from real events, this is the opposite: the coin’s function and the sport’s ceremony line up perfectly. It’s the kind of detail that makes a page about the coin more than a spec list—it becomes a narrative hook.

Collector formats: base metal to gold (and why that matters)

The Royal Mint announced the coin would be available across multiple collector formats, including base metal, silver, silver piedfort, and gold. This matters because it creates a “ladder” of entry points:

• Base metal / BU for affordable collecting (and gifting to football fans who “don’t do coins” until you hand them one).
• Silver proof for the display crowd who want that sharp contrast and presentation.
• Silver piedfort for people who like the physical heft and the “special format” feel.
• Gold for top-tier collectors, series completists, or the “one perfect version” buyer.

The Royal Mint’s archived product listing confirms at least a Brilliant Uncirculated collector version existed as an official issue.

Collecting & value: what drives demand

Football-themed UK coins sit in an interesting niche: they attract dedicated coin collectors and an entirely different audience of sports fans who may buy exactly one coin in their life—and that one coin is the one that matches their identity. When you add a “major anniversary” like 150 years, you amplify that effect. It becomes a natural gift, a keepsake, and a little slab of cultural memory.

UKCoins currently shows an estimated value of £8.00 for this issue (noting that condition and demand affect pricing). Treat that as a snapshot, not a universal truth—values move based on packaging, finish, scarcity, and the occasional surge of attention when a topic becomes relevant again (anniversary years, documentaries, big finals, etc.).

A practical collector tip: when you’re comparing prices online, separate these categories in your head: circulation strikes vs Brilliant Uncirculated packs vs proof vs piedfort. They can share a design but behave like totally different products in the market.