JRR Tolkien £2 Coins
J.R.R. Tolkien £2 Coin Series has been isuued by The Royal Mint to celebrate the life and works of renowned author J.R.R Tolkien with the collection of official J.R.R Tolkien £2 coins!
These coins are currently only available as part of the 2023 Annual Coin Sets, until they are released individually later in the year. None will enter general circulation.
Pre-Orders on eBay UK
Some sellers are offering pre-orders
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2023 JRR TOLKIEN £2 TWO POUND COIN BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED PACK - IN STOCK | |
 | Watchers: 170 Bid: £13.99 |
2023 J R R TOLKIEN £2/TWO POUND Coin I Koin Club Card. | |
 | Watchers: 2 Bid: £12.00 |
ROYAL MINT 2023 PACK - TOLKIEN £2 TWO POUND BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED COIN | |
 | Watchers: 13 Bid: £12.00 |
Prices shown here may not be final. Check eBay listings directly for final selling price plus any applicable tax, import or shipping charges. These are not our products for sale. Please check all details directly with the eBay seller before commiting to any purchase.
What Alloys are Available in the Coin Series?
These coins have been released in a number of different alloys in the Annual Sets, including:
- Brilliant Uncirculated
- Premum Proof
- Silver Proof
- Silver Proof Piedfort (double-thickness)
- Gold Proof
What is the design?
We have heard a good feedback on the design of this coin and it seems well-liked by both Tolkien fans and UK coin collectors.
The REVERSE of the coin shows at its centre the monogram of JRR Tolkien, styled as a rune. This is then surrounded by a geometric decorative pattern.
Around above, the inscription JRR TOLKIEN, surrounded by the years of his life from 1892 through to 1973 (he was 81 years old when he died)
Around below, WRITER · POET · SCHOLAR
The DL in small letters in the lower right part of the outer ring is the signature of the coin designer, David Lawrence.
The OBVERSE has the value and denomination, as well as the date of issue. It shows the effigy of King Charles III facing left.
Below the neck truncation in tiny letters, the artist’s initials MJ, for Martin Jennings.
Around, the outer edge:
CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 2 POUNDS · 2023 ·.
Translated from Latin, this means Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King, Defender of the Faith.
There is a lot of debate amongst UK coin collectors on when the King has no crown? and why CHARLES is not written in Latin, which would be CAROLUS.
Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II discontinued the use of Latin for her regnal name on coinage when she ascended the throne in 1952. The initial coins released with her image bore her regnal name in English. Charles has chosen to maintain that tradition.
Brilliant Uncirculated £2 coin
JRR Tolkien £2 Coin
JRR Tolkien £2 Coin Obverse
BU Coin Specification
The base metal coin is as follows
| SPECIFICATION | VALUE |
|---|---|
| DENOMINATION | £2 |
| WEIGHT | 12.00g |
| DIAMETER | 28.40mm |
| REVERSE DESIGNER | David Lawrence |
| OBVERSE DESIGNER | Martin Jennings |
| EDGE INSCRIPTION | · NOT ALL THOSE WHO WANDER ARE LOST |
| QUALITY | Brilliant Uncirculated |
| YEAR | 2023 |
| EDGE | Fine milled incuse edge lettering |
JRR Tolkien £2 Gold Coin
JRR Tolkien £2 Gold Coin – Reverse
JRR Tolkien £2 Gold Coin – Obverse featuring King Charles III
Gold Coin Specification
| SPECIFICATION | VALUE |
|---|---|
| DENOMINATION | £2 |
| ALLOY | Inner: 22 carat yellow gold. Outer: 22 carat red gold |
| WEIGHT | 15.98g |
| DIAMETER | 28.40mm |
| REVERSE DESIGNER | David Lawrence |
| OBVERSE DESIGNER | Martin Jennings |
| EDGE INSCRIPTION | · NOT ALL THOSE WHO WANDER ARE LOST |
| QUALITY | Proof |
| YEAR | 2023 |
| EDGE | Plain edge incuse edge lettering |
Who was J.R.R. Tolkien?
Prior to composing his seminal works of fantasy literature, such as “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” J.R.R Tolkien’s proficiency in multiple languages served as an advantageous foundation for his career in the field of philology.
Despite his reputation as a respected academic and scholar at institutions such as the University of Leeds and the University of Oxford, it was the publication of “The Hobbit” in 1937 that propelled Tolkien to international fame.
This classic piece of fantasy literature has been a staple on children’s reading lists since its release, and was followed by the highly successful “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, which has served as a model for contemporary fantasy fiction.
While Tolkien’s fictional world of Middle-earth and its intricate mythology brought his writing and storytelling abilities to the attention of audiences worldwide, his experiences during the First World War served as a stark contrast.
Tolkien served as a Second Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers and saw active duty on the Western Front, including four months of trench warfare as part of the Somme offensive.
Tolkien passed away in 1973.
