What’s the Value of William Shakespeare £2 Coin: A Collector’s Guide
In 2016, the Royal Mint issued 2-pound coins commemorating Shakespeare’s life and legacy. These coins were special issues created under a 3-coin series to celebrate the 400-year anniversary of his death.
The designs on the coins were based on Shakespeare’s tragedies, comedies, and histories and have continued to grow in value over the years. They are very popular today due to the additional rarity minted within the coins. This article discusses the value of William Shakespeare 2 Coin.
Overview of the 2016 William Shakespeare £2 Coins
The Royal Mint began issuing a series in 2016 to celebrate the work of Shakespeare. 2-pound coins were made for these and the plays featured include Hamlet, Othello, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Each separate coin had a design that captivated the genre of his work.
Shakespeare Tragedies, £2 Coin
This coin has a skull and a rose, marking Shakespeare’s most noted tragedies: Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet. Inscribed on the edge of the coin is “WHAT A PIECE OF WORK IS A MAN”, a famous excerpt from Hamlet. This coin’s mintage was 4,615,000, which makes it common.
Shakespearean Tragedies £2 coins usually range from £3 to £6, but some coins that have edge inscription errors can be worth much more.
Shakespeare Comedies, £2 Coin
The Shakespeare Comedies £2 coin is illustrated with a jester’s hat and stick, portraying Shakespeare’s comedic plays – A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night.
The edge inscription on the coin states, “ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE”, a quote from As You Like It.
This coin has a mintage of 4,355,000 which makes it the rarest of the three coins of the series. For this reason, it is valued more than the other two, between £4 and £7, due to its condition.
Shakespeare Histories, £2 Coin
Shakespeare’s Histories £2 coin depicts a crown and sword, symbolizing history plays such as Henry V and Richard III. The edge inscription reads “THE HOLLOW CROWN,” which speaks to the impermanent nature of power.
This coin had the highest mintage out of all three, with a stunning 5,655,000 coins made.
Due to this, it is the most common and usually sells for about £3 to £5 in circulated condition.
Rare Minting Errors and Their Impact on Value
Some of William Shakespeare’s £2 coins have minting errors that make them far more valuable to collectors. The most notorious blunder is on the Shakespeare Tragedies £2 coin, where some pieces were minted with the incorrect edge inscription.
Edge Inscription Error on the Shakespeare Tragedies £2 Coin
The edge inscription of the Shakespeare Tragedies coin notes, “WHAT A PIECE OF WORK IS A MAN.” Some coins, however, were accidentally minted with the edge inscription of the 2016 First World War £2 coin that reads, “FOR KING AND COUNTRY”.
These mistake coins are highly sought after, making it easy to sell for over £100 and, in some cases, even up to £123. If you have a Shakespeare Tragedies £2 coin, you can check the edge inscription to find out if you possess a mistake coin.
Factors That Influence the Value of the William Shakespeare £2 Coin
Value is subjective, which certainly applies to these commemorative coins. Some factors include:
- Condition: Coins that are uncirculated or in mint condition are more valuable than those that suffer from circulation. Collectors generally prefer coins with minimal wear and scratches, if any.
- Rarity: The Comedies coin is the most rare, which makes it slightly more valuable than its counterparts. Error coins with incorrect inscriptions are the most rare and sought-after.
- Demand: The popularity of the William Shakespeare £2 coins has put these coins in high demand in the market, driving their value up.
- Errors: Coins that have errors while minted, such as those with an incorrect edge inscription. These coins are considered to be very rare and can be valued up to 20 times their face value.
Conclusion
The value of William Shakespeare 2 Coin is a tribute to one of the world’s greatest literary figures. Even though these coins can be purchased for their face value of £2, their worth increases greatly for collectors, especially when in uncirculated condition or when certain minting flaws are present. For these coins, the tragedy of Shakespearean drama edges with the incorrect inscription on the obverse side of the coin, which is often valued the most, with some people paying more than 100 pounds for it in some instances.
