The Ship That Changed the World: HMS Beagle Honoured on New UK £2 Coin
The UK 2026 HMS Beagle £2 coin has been issued by The Royal Mint to honour one of Britain’s most iconic ships of exploration – a vessel whose legacy would go on to transform our understanding of life on Earth.
While HMS Beagle may not be a household name, her legacy is undeniable – particularly due to her second voyage.
It was during this expedition that the ship carried a young naturalist, Charles Darwin, on a journey across the globe.
Setting sail in 1831, HMS Beagle charted a course along the coasts of South America before continuing to the Galápagos Islands and beyond. Along the way, Darwin’s observations of unique wildlife to dramatic geological formations – would go on to shape his revolutionary theory of evolution by natural selection.
What began as a surveying expedition would ultimately become one of the most important scientific journeys in history.
A Coin Inspired by Discovery
Issued to mark 200 years since HMS Beagle’s first voyage, this £2 coin pays tribute to a ship whose legacy reaches far beyond maritime exploration.
The reverse design, created by William Webb, depicts HMS Beagle with her sails furled, surrounded by wildlife inspired by Darwin’s ground-breaking observations. This detailed composition not only celebrates the ship itself, but also the discoveries that were made possible on board.
Bringing together themes of exploration, science and British heritage, this coin offers collectors a meaningful way to mark a truly significant anniversary.
A Tradition of Historic Ships on UK £2 Coins
HMS Beagle now joins a long line of iconic vessels commemorated on UK £2 coins – each one telling the story of Britain’s rich maritime past.
In 2011, the Mary Rose £2 coin honoured Henry VIII’s famous warship, raised from the seabed in 1982. With just 1,040,000 Mary Rose £2 coins in circulation, it ranks as less common on our Scarcity Index.
The First World War Navy £2, issued in 2015, paid tribute to the naval forces of WWI, featuring a powerful battleship design. Many collectors will be familiar with the well-known ‘flag error’ variation found on some coins.
More recently, the Mayflower £2 coin was released in 2020 to mark 400 years since the historic voyage that carried the Pilgrims to the New World.
And in 2025, two maritime-themed £2 coins continued this tradition – HMS Belfast, celebrating the iconic Royal Navy warship now preserved on the River Thames, and RRS Discovery, recognising a pioneering vessel of Antarctic exploration whose voyages helped advance scientific understanding of the polar regions.
With such a rich tradition of maritime commemoratives, HMS Beagle is a natural addition – a ship whose legacy goes beyond exploration to transforming our understanding of the natural world.
Secure your 2026 UK HMS Beagle £2
Add the new 2026 UK HMS Beagle £2 coin to your collection >>