Elizabeth II, £2 (50th Anniversary United Nations) 1995 Silver Proof

In 1986 the Royal Mint issued its first-ever non-Gold Two Pound Piece. It was a commemorative for the Commonwealth Games which were held in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has a Scottish Thistle in the middle of the Scottish flag, with the cross of St. Andrew. The obverse has the so-called Maklouf portrait of the Queen. They were struck in base metal for general circulation and in Proof Sterling Silver for collectors. Today these coins are getting more and more difficult to find. It is the first non-Gold Two Pound piece and a commemorative.

In 2002, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 50th or Golden Jubilee as our Queen. The Royal Mint issued a special commemorative £5 to honour the event. In many ways it is similar to the Coronation Crown of 1953, as the Queen is riding her horse. The obverse is the Queen with her crown and a most striking portrait it is. They are in Uncirculated condition and now, 20 years later, following the passing of our longest reigning monarch, they are one of the most sought after coins of her reign.

In 1994 the Royal Mint struck a special commemorative £2 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Bank of England. It was the old larger-sized £2 coin and looks rather fantastic. It has the monogram WM for William and Mary and a rather attractive seated Britannia. We have bought a nice group of this important and attractive £2 piece in both Sterling Silver Proof and Piedfort Sterling Silver Proof. The mintages are 27,957 in Silver Proof and just 9,569 in Piedfort Silver. They come in a protective capsule. It is the large size, a beautiful design and the mintages are rather low, what more could you ask for?