The ‘Father of Fantasy’ celebrated on a UK coin – J.R.R. Tolkien £2

I guarantee that most of you will have heard of The Lord of the Rings, or The Hobbit, but do you know who created these literary masterpieces?

J.R.R. Tolkien of course – and the legendary author has been honoured on the latest UK £2 coin!

2023 UK J.R.R. Tolkien £2 reverse and obverse
2023 UK J.R.R. Tolkien £2 reverse and obverse

An intricate design

The 2023 UK J.R.R. Tolkien £2 features a bespoke design by artist David Lawrence, featuring Tolkien’s trademark monogram, framed by an intricately detailed runic band. Also inscribed onto the reverse design are the years of his life 1892-1973 and the words ‘Writer, Poet, Scholar’, representative of his intellect and imagination.

2023 UK J.R.R. Tolkien £2 reverse
2023 UK J.R.R. Tolkien £2 reverse

The edge inscription of the coin reads ‘NOT ALL THOSE WHO WANDER ARE LOST’, a quote taken from Tolkien’s poem, ‘The Riddle of Strider’, which actually appears in The Fellowship of the Ring.

The ‘Father of Fantasy’

Often referred to as the ‘Father of Fantasy’, J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic stories inspired a whole new generation of fantasy literature, helping shape the modern fantasy genre as we know it today. He’s perhaps best known for titles such as The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, which are considered some of the greatest fantasy books ever written.

'The One Ring' on a page from The Lord of the Rings, part I The Fellowship of the Ring.
‘The One Ring’ on a page from The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring
Credit: FlickreviewR CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Lord of the Rings books have inspired countless games, tv shows and music, they’ve been translated into 38 different languages, and were of course adapted into 3 blockbuster films, which have a huge cult following.

Other works

Aside from his incredibly popular fantasy novels, Tolkien also published a number of other works, from scholarly essays to translations of Middle English. His literary legacy even continued after his death in 1973, with another cult favourite, The Silmarillion being published in 1977.

The Silmarillion book cover
The Silmarillion book cover
Credit: Stojanoski Slave, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Secure the 2023 UK J.R.R. Tolkien CERTIFIED BU £2

So, if you’re a fan of The Lord of the Rings, fantasy films or literature in general or you just appreciate beautifully detailed coins, the 2023 UK J.R.R. Tolkien £2 is definitely one to add to your collection.

To secure this new coin in superior brilliant uncirculated quality, protectively encapsulated in official Change Checker packaging, simply click here >>