‘Pioneer’ of the historical novel, Sir Walter Scott, commemorated on UK £2 coin…

Scottish novelist, poet, historian, and biographer, Sir Walter Scott, is often considered both the inventor and the greatest practitioner of the historical novel.

Sir Walter Scott’s early work consisted of poetic romances but his earlier books, set in Scotland, demonstrate his knowledge of Scottish history and society. His works were some of the most popular literary pieces of his time.

In the 250th anniversary year of his birth, The Royal Mint have issued a £2 coin, commemorating him and his remarkable career.

2021 UK Sir Walter Scott £2

2021 UK Sir Walter Scott £2. Secure yours >>

The coin, designed by Stephen Raw, features the text: “SIR WALTER SCOTT NOVELIST HISTORIAN POET” encircled by the inscription “250TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH” and the year date.

Excitingly, this coin also features the edge inscription, “THE WILL TO DO, THE SOUL TO DARE”, a quote from his epic poem, ‘Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field’.

Issued initially as part of the 2021 Annual Coin Set, this is the first chance collectors have had to secure this individual coin to their collections.

Available in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for JUST £8.99 (+p&p), you can secure this coin today by clicking here >>

Sir Walter Scott joins an impressive portfolio of authors, poets, novelists to be commemorated on UK coins. Continue reading to find out more…

2020 William Wordsworth £5

William Wordsworth
2020 Sir Walter Scott £2

To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Wordsworth, The Royal Mint issued this £5 coin and it was the first time that the famous poet was celebrated on a UK coin.

He is one of the most popular poets to have written in the English language, gaining popularity during the beginning of the English Romantic period in literature.

Designed by David Lawrence, designer of the 2018 and 2019 Britannia, the reverse features lines taken from one of Wordsworth’s most celebrated poems, ‘Tintern Abbey’.

To secure this coin for your collection for JUST £10.99 (+p&p), in Brilliant Uncirculated quality, click here >>

2020 Agatha Christie £2

Agatha Christie
2020 Agatha Christie £2

This £2 coin was issued in 2020 to mark the 100th anniversary of Dame Agatha Christie’s genre-defining murder mysteries.

An author of 66 detective novels and 150 short stories, Agatha Christie has justly earned the title of the ‘Queen of Crime’. Towards the end of her career, she was made a Dame of the British Empire for her contribution to literature.

The reverse design of this coin, by David Lawrence, depicts a jigsaw puzzle with a question mark, representing the mystery behind her stories.

You can secure this coin for your collection for £8.99 (+p&p) by clicking here >>

2018 Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein £2

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
2018 Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein £2

This £2 coin was issued by The Royal Mint to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s famous novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.

Whilst on holiday in Geneva Mary Shelley and her poet friends, including Lord Byron and future Husband Percy Shelley, decided to have a competition to see who could write the best horror story.

Out of this Mary Shelley created Frankenstein, a story about a scientist’s scary act at playing God and creating life. It went on to become one of the best loved gothic novels.

The reverse of this gothic coin was designed by Thomas Doherty and features the words ‘Frankenstein’ in an electric gothic font.

2017 Jane Austen £2

Jane Austen

In 2017, to celebrate the life and works of one of Britain’s best-loved authors, The Royal Mint issued this Jane Austen £2.

Jane Austen is one of the best-loved English novelists from the 19th century. Her novels were revolutionary and from her first novel, Sense and Sensibility, readers began a love affair with her fiction that has lasted two centuries.

Designed by Dominique Evans, a portrait of Jane Austen features on the reverse of this coin. It did not enter general circulation and was issued in collector quality only.

2016 Shakespeare £2 coins

2016 Shakespeare £2 coins

William Shakespeare is the most influential literary figure in British history and his works are an important part of Britain’s cultural heritage.

In 2016, a series of three £2 coins were issued to mark the 400th anniversary since his death and to celebrate his greatest works.

Each coin’s design takes inspiration from some of Shakespeare’s greatest works, including Macbeth (pictured central), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (far right) and his most-famous love tragedy, Romeo and Juliet (pictured left).

All three coins entered circulation but the Comedy £2 has the lowest circulating mintage – just 4,355,000!

2016 Beatrix Potter 50p

Beatrix Potter
2016 Beatrix Potter 50p

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter, the Royal Mint have released this 50p to celebrate Beatrix herself.

Designed by Emma Noble, the coin includes elements that celebrate Beatrix as the artist behind some of the best-loved characters in children’s literature along with the nostalgic font used for the inscription.

This coin entered general circulation and has a mintage of 6,900,000.


The Sir Walter Scott £2 was initially issued as part of the 2021 UK Annual Coin Set but this is the first time that collectors will have the chance of securing this coin individually for their collections.

Will you be adding it to your collection? Let us know in the comments below!


Secure the 2021 UK Sir Walter Scott £2 for your collection!

Secure the brand new 2021 UK Sir Walter Scott £2 for your collection for JUST £8.99 (+p&p) by clicking here >>

Your coin has been protectively encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging with that all-important hologram to guarantee its superior quality.

First look: 2021 Royal Mint Annual Coins Design Reveal!

As we celebrate the arrival of the New Year, at Change Checker HQ we’re also celebrating the arrival of new coins – The 2021 Annual Coins!

We can’t wait to reveal to you the new 2021 coin designs and I’m sure you’ll agree that there are some really fantastic coins to look forward to.

So let’s kick off the year with the coins we’ve all been waiting for, the 2021 Annual Set…

Decimal Day 50p

2021 Decimal Day 50p available within the 2021 Annual Coin Set

This year marks the 50th anniversary since Decimal Day on the 15th February 1971 and to celebrate the biggest change our UK coinage has ever seen, a brand new 50p has been issued.

In commemoration of the anniversary, this brand new 50p, designed by Dominique Evans, features the original Machin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, which featured on the very first 50p back in 1969.

The 50p has become the most-collected and best-loved decimal coin since its introduction and given the significance of this anniversary, I’m sure this 50p will prove very popular with collectors.

John Logie Baird 50p

2021 John Logie Baird 50p available within the 2021 Annual Coin Set

It’s hard to imagine life without television but back in the 1920s, it was a complete unknown.

That was until John Logie Baird successfully produced televised objects in outline in 1924, transmitted recognizable human faces in 1925, and demonstrated the televising of moving objects in 1926. This was the very first-time that television had become a reality and it shaped the world that we live in today.

This brand new 50p, designed by Osborne Ross, celebrates the life and works of this remarkable British inventor, electrical engineer, and innovator.

H. G. Wells £2

2021 H. G. Wells £2 available within the 2021 Annual Coin Set

Herbert George Wells was an English novelist, journalist, sociologist, and historian best known for his science fiction novels The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds.

In the year marking the 75th anniversary of his death, this brand new £2 coin has been issued, feature a design which pays a fitting tribute to his famous novels, with a depiction of the Invisible Man and a Martian encircled by clock numerals.

The inscription also reads one of his famous quotes, “GOOD BOOKS ARE THE WAREHOUSES OF IDEAS”. We love Chris Costello’s design and we hope you do too!

Sir Walter Scott £2

2021 Sir Walter Scott £2 available within the 2021 Annual Coin Set

2021 commemorates the 250th anniversary of the birth of novelist, historian, and poet, Sir Walter Scott.

He is considered both the inventor and the greatest practitioner of the historical novel.

The coin, designed by Stephen Raw, features the text: “SIR WALTER SCOTT NOVELIST HISTORIAN POET” encircled by the inscription “250TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH” and the year date.

Excitingly, this coin also features the edge inscription, “THE WILL TO DO, THE SOUL TO DARE”, a quote from his epic poem, ‘Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field’.

Queens Elizabeth II 95th Birthday £5

2021 Queen Elizabeth II 95th Birthday £5 available within the 2021 Annual Coin Set.

This year, our Queen will celebrate her 95th birthday and to celebrate, The Royal Mint has issued this £5 coin.

The coin features a design by Timothy Noad, of the Royal Cypher and the inscription “MY HEART AND MY DEVOTION” alongside the date of the Queen’s birth and the year 2021.

In 2016, a £5 coin was issued to celebrate Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday and it proved incredibly popular with collectors, as she became the first British monarch to reach their 90th birthday. As she reaches another significant milestone, I’m sure this celebratory coin will prove just as, if not more popular!


The announcement of the new annual coins is always an exciting moment for Change Checkers, particularly when the anniversaries are as significant as these.

Do you have a favourite coin from the set? Let us know in the comments below!


Secure the 2021 Annual Coin Set to your collection today!

Secure the 2021 Annual Coin Set for your collection for JUST £40.00 (+p&p) by clicking here >>

If you love these coins as much as we do, you can secure them as a set today for JUST £40.00 (+p&p)

Secure yours by clicking here >>