Sir Walter Scott £2 Coin

2021 UK £2 BU: 250th Anniversary of the Birth of Sir Walter Scott

Issued in 2021, this Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) £2 celebrates 250 years since the birth of Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832), the Scottish novelist, poet and historian whose storytelling helped define the historical novel. It’s a smart pick-up for collectors who like “culture coins” that sit neatly alongside other literary and anniversary-themed UK issues.

Design details collectors look for

The reverse (by Stephen Raw) pairs a stylised portrait of Scott with the descriptors “NOVELIST • POET • HISTORIAN” and the surrounding anniversary legend. The edge inscription is “THE WILL TO DO, THE SOUL TO DARE”, a must-check feature when attributing examples.

Specification highlights: bi-metallic £2 (inner cupro-nickel, outer nickel-brass), 28.40mm diameter, 12.00g weight, with the obverse by Jody Clark.

The 2021 “annual set” series context

The Royal Mint’s 2021 commemorative line-up was designed to work as a themed group in the year’s annual sets, pairing Scott with other milestone designs: 50th Anniversary of Decimalisation (50p), John Logie Baird (50p), H.G. Wells (£2), and The Queen’s 95th Birthday (£5). These designs first appeared in annual sets before being offered more widely in different formats later in the year.

Collector tips

Keep the original BU packaging if you have it, and store the coin in an inert capsule to protect the brighter BU surfaces from hairlines. When buying raw examples, verify the edge lettering and look for clean rims, as knocks show up fast on bi-metal £2 coins.