2001 Two Pound Coin – Marconi

On 12 December 1901 the Italian Physicist Guglielmo Marconi became the first person to send a radio transmission across the Atlantic.

The single Morse letter ‘S’ (just 3 dots) was sent from Cornwall, England to Newfoundland, Canada. Many thought that it would be impossible as the curvature of the Earth would send the radio waves up into space, but Marconi proved them otherwise and changed the future of the World.

Marconi was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1909. To commemorate the centenary of Marconi’s transmission, the Royal Mint produced a £2 coin marking the event.

The £2 (Marconi) coin reverse is a series of radio waves emanating from a spark of electricity set in between the zeroes of ‘2001’. Outside these is the image of the radio waves following the curvature of the Earth, just as Marconi predicted. This was designed by Robert Evans.

The £2 coin also has an edge  inscription: 'WIRELESS BRIDGES THE ATLANTIC MARCONI 1901'.

The obverse shows Queen Elizabeth II.

Mintage: 4,558,000 (may include coins issued as part of a set). Minted at The Royal Mint.

Elizabeth II was in her 49th year as Queen. In the USA Bill Clinton ends his second term as President and George W Bush becomes the 43rd U.S. President. After the 9-11 terrorist attack, the twin World Trade Towers collapse.

The current Two Pound (£2) coin that is found in circulation is a bimetallic coin introduced on 15th June 1998 (although the first are dated 1997). There are almost 500 million £2 coins of various designs in current circulation.

There has been other two pound coins. From 1823 until 1996 they made occasional appearances and the double-sovereign has a two pound value. Commemorative two pound coins were issued from 1986 to 1996. This article is primarily concerned with the circulating coins of 1997 onwards.

specifications:

• Weight: 12 g
• Diameter: 28.4 mm
• Thickness: 2.5 mm
• Edge: Milled, with incuse lettering
• Design style: Circular, bi-metallic
• Composition Outer ring: Nickel-brass (76% Cu, 20% Zn and 4% Ni)
• Composition Centre: Cupro-nickel (75% Cu , 25% Ni)

The two pound coin has also been minted in gold.The Royal Mint is the designated place for the UK to mint coins. It dates back well over 1000 years and is a Government-owned company. 

Formed in the reign of Alfred the Great about the year 886, it moved to the Tower of London in 1279 and remained there for over 500 years. The Master of The Royal Mint has included famous figures such as Sir Isaac Newton. Since 2010 it has operated as Royal Mint Ltd, a company owned by HM Treasury, under an exclusive contract to supply all coinage for the UK although it also produces medals and coins for other countries. It is currently located at Llantrisant, Wales.
Queen Elizabeth II is the current and longest reigning monarch ever. Born on 21 April 1926 to King George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, she became Queen in 1952 and her Coronation was on 2 June 1953.

Queen Elizabeth II has issued many coins and was monarch during decimalisation.
The United Kingdom (UK) is the Union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is often refered to as Great Britain (GBR). It has a long, rich history.

It's orignal coinage was Pounds, Shillings and Pence but since decimalisation on 15 February 1971, it is £1 = 100p, that is One Pound = 100 pence. The coinage of the UK is also a long history, the Royal Mint being established as long ago as 886AD when coins were hammered. Today there is perhaps 30 billion coins in circulation, and many (numismatic) collectors coins and sets are issued frequently in gold, silver and other metals.