How rare is the Royal Navy £2?

The Royal Navy £2 commemorates the Royal Navy’s efforts in World War One and is known as the 3rd rarest £2 coin in circulation.

The coin features a battleship design by military artist David Rowlands and the 5th portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, but just 650,000 2015 Navy £2 coins were struck for circulation, making it very sought-after amongst collectors.

But you may have also heard about the small number of Royal Navy £2 coins which were issued to HMS Belfast and its visitor facilities in 2015 – 100 of them to be precise. The story was widely covered, including being featured by the BBC. Naturally plenty of excitement ensued amongst collectors, many of whom flocked to HMS Belfast in the hope of finding one.

2015-navy

The 100 Royal Navy £2 coins distributed at HMS Belfast all carry the Ian Rank-Broaldey FRBS portrait of the Queen

 

The distinguishing feature of these 100 coins is that they all carry the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank Broadley FRBS whereas those issued for general circulation later in the year then featured the Queen’s new portrait which was announced 2nd March 2015.

However, the Brilliant Uncirculated Royal Navy £2 packs which were originally made available in 2014 also feature Ian Rank-Broadley’s current effigy of the Queen, and there is nothing fundamentally different between these and the 100 issued to HMS Belfast.

Inevitably, scammers capitalised on these blurred lines and a large number of coins purporting to be from HMS Belfast started to crop up on eBay for extortionate amounts. Whilst we can’t prove or disprove the legitimacy of the listings it is nonsensical to bid on a coin which can in no way be authenticated as one of the 100 rare issues. And as we know, when it comes to collecting, there is one fact which is always inevitable – the rarest coins are always in highest demand.

 

Ebay listing

A Royal Navy £2 claiming to be from HMS Belfast selling on ebay for over £100

 

So although the dust has settled and the Navy £2 is no longer the talk of the town, it is still a staple coin for any collection (even without the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait) and if you come across one in your change, it might just be worth hanging on to!


 

Own the 3rd rarest £2 coin in circulation!


If you would like to own this rare Royal Navy £2 Coin, you can order yours today.

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Change Checkers vote Royal Navy £2 their favourite

Thank you to everyone who voted for their favourite of the new 2015 coin designs in our recent poll. Thousands of you participated and it was a very close call between the three circulation coins, but in the end the First World War Royal Navy £2 just edged out the Battle of Britain 50p as the most popular design.

Change Checkers voted the Royal Navy £2 as their facourite

Change Checkers voted the Royal Navy £2 as their facourite

The coin (pictured here) is the second design in the Royal Mint’s five year programme commemorating the centenary of the First World War.

The British Royal Navy was by far the best in the world at the time of outbreak in 1914, and offered a formidable defence of British coastal waters throughout the war.

The reverse design by renowned military artist David Rowlands features the imposing image of a First World War Navy battleship approaching on the open sea with the anniversary dates around the outside.

It remains to be seen when exactly the three 2015 coins will be making their way into general circulation next year, but we are already looking forward to finding them!


204FToday you can own the first coin in the Royal Mint’s commemorative First World War Centenary programme featuring Lord Kitchener’s iconic call to arms.

Click here to reserve your exclusive presentation pack!