Royal Mint Launches Collectible £2 Coin to Celebrate Flying Scotsman’s Centenary
The Royal Mint, the official maker of UK coins, has launched a collectible £2 coin in collaboration with the National Railway Museum to commemorate the centenary of the Flying Scotsman, the world’s most famous steam locomotive.
Coins available from Thursday 23rd February 9am GMT
The Centenary of Flying Scotsman 2023 £2 Coin | |
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£2 Colour Coin | |
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£2 Silver Proof Colour Coin | |
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£2 Piedfort Colour Coin | |
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The Centenary of Flying Scotsman 1923 Sovereign and 2023 £2 Coin Set | |
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The Centenary of Flying Scotsman 2023 Limited Edition Print | |
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£2 Gold Proof Coin | |
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Flying Scotsman 1923 Half-Crown and 2023 £2 Coin Set | |
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What Coins Are Being Issued?
The coins are all £2 in denomination and are as follows:
£2 BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED COIN
Specification
| Alloy | Inner Alloy: Cupro-nickel |
| Outer Alloy: Nickel-brass | |
| Weight | 12.00g |
| Diameter | 28.40mm |
| Obverse Designer | Martin Jennings |
| Reverse Designer | John Bergdahl |
| Edge Inscription | LIVE FOR THE JOURNEY |
| Quality | Brilliant Uncirculated |
| Limited Edition Presentation | Unlimited |
| Issue Price | £12.00 |
£2 Brilliant Uncirculated Colour Coin
Specification as above except:
| Limited Edition Presentation | 15,000 |
| Issue Price | £21.00 |
£2 Silver Proof Colour Coin
| Alloy | Inner Alloy: 925 Ag |
| Outer Alloy: 925 Ag plated with fine gold | |
| Weight | 12.00g |
| Diameter | 28.40mm |
| Obverse Designer | Martin Jennings |
| Reverse Designer | John Bergdahl & Ffion Gwillim |
| Features | Colour |
| Edge Inscription | LIVE FOR THE JOURNEY |
| Quality | Proof |
| Limited Edition Presentation | 4,472 |
| Issue Price | £85.00 |
£2 Silver Proof Piedfort Colour Coin
| Alloy | Inner Alloy: 925 Ag |
| Outer Alloy: 925 Ag plated with fine gold | |
| Weight | 24.00g |
| Diameter | 28.40mm |
| Obverse Designer | Martin Jennings |
| Reverse Designer | John Bergdahl & Ffion Gwillim |
| Features | Colour |
| Edge Inscription | LIVE FOR THE JOURNEY |
| Quality | Proof |
| Limited Edition Presentation | 1,923 |
| Issue Price | £135.00 |
£2 Gold Proof Coin
| Alloy | Inner Alloy: 916.7 Au yellow gold |
| Outer Alloy: 916.7 Au red gold | |
| Weight | 15.98g |
| Diameter | 28.40mm |
| Obverse Designer | Martin Jennings |
| Reverse Designer | John Bergdahl |
| Features | – |
| Edge Inscription | LIVE FOR THE JOURNEY |
| Quality | Proof |
| Limited Edition Presentation | 300 |
| Issue Price | £1,225.00 |
A Rare Coloured £2 Coin
The £2 collectible coin is a rarity as it features the Flying Scotsman in vivid color. The last colored £2 coin was released over 20 years ago!
Ffion Gwillim, in The Royal Mint’s design team, ensured the coloring on the coin is inspired by Flying Scotsman’s iconic LNER Locomotive Green livery also known as Apple Green.
Working closely with the curatorial team at the National Railway Museum, The Royal Mint’s design team based the green on several images of the locomotive over the years. Using innovative color printing technology, the team replicated this exact color to appear on the Flying Scotsman £2 coin – bringing the locomotive’s characteristics to life.
Design of the Flying Scotsman £2 Coin
The Flying Scotsman £2 coin features a reverse design by the experienced coinage artist John Bergdahl. The design captures a side-on view of the famous locomotive as it steams ahead on one of its many rail journeys. The inscription on the coin reads ‘LNER.’ followed by ‘4472’, Flying Scotsman’s second service number, as well as the date of the locomotive’s special anniversary. The edge inscription of the coin reads ‘LIVE FOR THE JOURNEY’ as a tribute to the locomotive that continues to be admired 100 years since its journey began.
After utilizing optical scanners to convert John’s 25cm diameter plaster model into a 3D digital file, the team proceeded to refine the design for its implementation onto a £2 coin with a 28.40mm diameter. With this process, Royal Mint Engraver Kerry was able to delicately translate the design without sacrificing any of the intricate details and finesse of John’s original creation.
A Thoughtfully Crafted Reverse Design
The Flying Scotsman £2 coin features a thoughtfully crafted reverse design by the experienced coinage artist John Bergdahl. The design captures a side-on view of the famous locomotive as it steams ahead on one of its many rail journeys. The inscription ‘LNER.’ followed by ‘4472’, Flying Scotsman’s second service number, as well as the date of the locomotive’s special anniversary are also featured. The edge inscription reads ‘LIVE FOR THE JOURNEY’ in a fitting tribute to an engine that continues to be admired 100 years since its journey began.
A Combination of Traditional and Innovative Techniques
To capture the essence and familiarity of the Flying Scotsman, The Royal Mint’s design team worked closely with experienced coin designer John Bergdahl. Royal Mint Engraver, Kerry Davies, combined traditional engraving and minting techniques with innovative technology to ensure that John’s original design, created on a plaster model, was accurately translated to appear on the £2 coin. The 3D digital file obtained from optical scanners was used to refine and delicately translate the design to feature onto a £2 coin, 28.40mm in size, without losing any of the detail or fineness of John’s design.
An Accurate Reproduction of Flying Scotsman’s Iconic Color
Ffion Gwillim in The Royal Mint’s design team meticulously ensured the color on the coin is inspired by Flying Scotsman’s iconic LNER Locomotive Green livery, also known as Apple Green. Working closely with the curatorial team at the National Railway Museum, The Royal Mint’s design team based the green on several images of the locomotive over the years. The team replicated this exact color using innovative color printing technology to bring the locomotive’s characteristics to life.
A Fitting Tribute
Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint, said, “Flying Scotsman is a wonderful example of British craftsmanship, design and engineering, which led to the creation of one of the world’s most famous locomotives. It was important for us to highlight the skill and engineering behind the locomotive as part of the coin’s design to mark its milestone centenary. Our talented team of craftspeople have captured the locomotive’s characteristics in fine detail, with the color edition of the coin bringing the locomotive to life. We anticipate this coin to be extremely popular with not only railway enthusiasts but also coin collectors across the world.”
A Real Honor
Judith McNicol, Director of the National Railway Museum, said, “Flying Scotsman’s centenary is an opportunity for people to come together to celebrate and share their memories of this special locomotive. Featuring on the new coin is a real honor and a wonderful way to mark the occasion.”
A Rich History
Originally designed by Nigel Gresley, Flying Scotsman was built in Doncaster in 1923. Currently the oldest main line working locomotive on the United Kingdom’s tracks, the Flying Scotsman has a rich history spanning over 100 years. Synonymous with the golden age of rail travel, the locomotive is renowned as a feat of design and engineering. Earning its name from the daily 10am London to Edinburgh rail service, the Flying Scotsman’s 100-year journey has seen it break railway records, gain worldwide fame and become an enduring symbol of the great age of steam. Flying Scotsman is now a star attraction in the collection of the National Railway Museum (part of the Science Museum Group) in York, where it is a working museum exhibit.
Flying Scotsman trademarks ® SCMG/ designs ©SCMG. A National Railway Museum locomotive. Railway Museum
