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New UK £2 coin celebrates the world’s most famous locomotive – Flying Scotsman
A brand new UK £2 coin has been issued celebrating the world’s most famous locomotive – Flying Scotsman.
To commemorate its centenary year, The Royal Mint featured a design of Flying Scotsman in motion on the reverse of the £2, by John Bergdahl.
This coin was issued in the 2023 Commemorative Coin Set. But, this is the first time collectors have been able to get their hands on the individual coin!
Flying Scotsman £2 celebrates poignant anniversary
If you’re lucky enough to have ever travelled on the famous locomotive, you’ll know just how impressive its engineering is – a true symbol of Britain’s great age of steam.
Built in 1923 at Doncaster Works, Flying Scotsman was the first locomotive of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).
Credit: Frances Lyon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
It joined Sir Nigel Gresley as part of the A1 class – the most powerful locomotives used by the LNER at that time.
It coined its name after the daily 10.00 London to Edinburgh rail service which started in 1862.
The British Empire Exhibition made Flying Scotsman famous when it first appeared in 1924.
Record-breaking steam power
1934 saw Flying Scotsman clock 100pm on a special test run, officially making it the first locomotive in the UK to reach that speed.
This was crucial in the negation of LNER’s directors plans to use diesel power on its high-speed services – proving steam power was just as punchy!
After a restoration project in 2006, Flying Scotsman broke yet another record. It returned as a working museum exhibit making it the oldest mainline working locomotive on Britain’s tracks.
Source: Barry Lewis, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Flying Scotsman is certainly the world’s most famous locomotive. Despite being retired from regular transportation duties, it still attracts hundreds of thousands of fans at every location it visits.
Have you ever seen Flying Scotsman in action? Let us know in the comments below.
Popular Train and Locomotive Coin Issues
The brand new Flying Scotsman £2 follows in some very big footsteps.
2013 London Underground Roundel £2
In 2013, The Royal Mint marked 100 years of the London Underground with two £2 coins.
This was the first to be issued and features the iconic Underground roundel, designed by Edwina Ellis.
The Tube has 11 lines covering 402 km and serving 272 stations, handling up to five million passenger journeys a day.
2013 London Underground Train £2
The second coin in The Royal Mint’s London Underground series shows a design of the iconic Tube, appearing through a tunnel.
The inscription reads ‘1863 – London Underground – 2013’.
Just 1,690,000 of these £2 coins entered circulation, making it somewhat tricky to get your hands on.
2004 Steam Locomotive £2
This £2 coin was issued to commemorate the 200th anniversary since the development of Richard Trevithick’s ‘Pennydarren‘ – the first steam engine locomotive.
The Pennydarren started the growth of railway transportation in the 19th century.
It travelled from Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales to Abercynon on its first journey in 1804, carrying 10 tons of iron, 5 wagons and 70 people on the 9 mile trip.
Celebrate Flying Scotsman’s 100 years of history with this brand new UK £2
Get your hands on the brand new 2023 UK Flying Scotsman for JUST £9.50 (+p&p) by clicking here >>
Myths and Legends: King Arthur £5 JUST ISSUED!
Legendary British king and wielder of sword Excalibur, King Arthur features on brand new UK £5 coin!
The 2023 UK King Arthur £5 coin has been issued as part of a new coin series of Myths and Legends. And, as one of the first King Charles III coin series, it’s sure to get collectors talking!
The design
David Lawrence, renowned for detailed £5 coin designs, shows King Arthur poised with the Excalibur sword in hand – the perfect tribute to a legendary figure!
The design has previously been struck on a 2023 1oz Silver coin, pictured below. But, can you spot the differences?
Not only do the metal, denomination and inscription differ, but the 1oz Silver coin also features Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy! A dual portrait pair such as this is exciting news for both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III collectors!
Start your Myths and Legends £5 collection by securing the 2023 UK King Arthur CERTIFIED BU £5 here >>
The mythology of King Arthur
So, why have The Royal Mint dedicated a new £5 coin to King Arthur? Well, Arthurian mythology is still a topic of interest in the 21st century, despite the legend originating in the 9th-10th centuries!
Many historians have tried to prove whether or not the legend of Arthur was king of England, with history professor Ronald Hutton speaking to BBC’s History Extra in 2020 about how we can be certain of one thing. ‘[T]he battle of Mount Badon, which is recorded in both of our earliest texts as one of Arthur’s greatest victories.’
But, even if King Arthur is just a myth, his legendary tale is nothing short of entertaining!
He has been portrayed as a noble knight who wielded a magical sword, Excalibur. The sword itself is surrounded by mythology, with the a 15th century text (Le Morte d’Arthur) stating that whoever pulls the sword out of a stone is the rightful king of England!
And in 1938, author T. H. White wrote a much-loved children’s novel titled The Sword in the Stone! White’s story also features mythological wizard, Merlin, who guides young Arthur along his journey to becoming England’s rightful king.
Therefore, with the legend of King Arthur engrained in British history, it’s only fitting that The Royal Mint have struck a brand new coin to celebrate him!
Add the 2023 UK King Arthur CERTIFIED BU £5 to your collection >>
2023 UK King Arthur CERTIFIED BU £5
Kickstart your King Charles III £5 collection with the brand new King Arthur £5, struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated quality! Simply click here to order yours for £13.99 (+p&p) >>
First Harry Potter 50p featuring King Charles III just issued!
The Royal Mint have struck a brand new UK Harry Potter 50p, featuring the wise headmaster of Hogwarts: Professor Dumbledore!
Featuring King Charles III for the first time
But Dumbledore is not the only figure to feature for the first time. Unlike the two previous 50p coins in the series, King Charles III’s portrait also appears on the coin!
This is the FIRST TIME we’ve seen both effigies of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III feature in a UK 50p series! Therefore, collectors of both monarch portraits are likely to secure all four for their collections…
With this unusual collecting story making these 50p coins even more collectable, you’ll need to act fast to get your hands on one! Click here to secure yours now for just £4.99 (+p&p) >>
The Professor Dumbledore design
The detailed design of Professor Dumbledore is an illustration by artist Jim Kay, which can be found within the pages of the 2015 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone book!
And, as with the other coins in the series, the 2023 UK Professor Dumbledore 50p features a special lenticular feature. By moving the coin back and forth, you can see the lenticular area show two different symbols: a lightning bolt, and the number 25!
The lightning bolt is an iconic symbol in the Harry Potter series, as it is the shape of Harry’s scar. Meanwhile, the number 25 features to mark 25 years since the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone!
First UK Harry Potter 50p
In 2022, The Royal Mint struck the first UK Harry Potter 50p. It’s design depicts Harry himself, and saw incredible demand from both Harry Potter fans and 50p collectors alike.
If you’d like to get your hands on the 2022 UK Harry Potter 50p, simply click here >>
Hogwarts Express 50p
Soon after, the Hogwarts Express 50p was issued as the second coin in the series! It features Jim Kay’s illustration of the iconic train that takes Hogwarts students to the wizarding school.
As the last coin in the series to feature Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy, collectors were eager to get their hands on the Hogwarts Express 50p!
If you’d like to order your 2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p, simply click here >>
2023 UK Professor Dumbledore 50p
As the first Harry Potter 50p featuring King Charles III, the 2023 UK Professor Dumbledore 50p is sure to cause a stir amongst 50p collectors. Especially those starting their King Charles III coin collection!
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 50p
We are yet to see the launch of the fourth and final 50p coin in the series. But, we do know it will feature another of Jim Kay’s wonderful illustrations. In particular, the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!
Collectors will surely be racing to complete their Harry Potter 50p collections, especially after the unusual dual-portrait reveal…
Get ahead of the crowd and pre-order the final UK Harry Potter 50p today >>