Coin
2 Pounds - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; Gunpowder Plot (2005) — United Kingdom
United Kingdom • 2005 • KM# 1052, Sp# K18
Overview
A bimetallic circulating commemorative 2 Pounds coin of the United Kingdom, minted in 2005 to mark the 400th anniversary of Guy Fawkes' Gunpowder Plot. The obverse displays the fourth crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, while the reverse depicts a circular arrangement of state symbols (mace, crosier, and sword). Composed of a copper-nickel centre in a nickel-brass ring with a milled edge bearing incuse lettering, this Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) strike was produced for collectors with a mintage of 74,642 pieces.
Specifications
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Year
- 2005
- Composition
- Bimetallic: copper-nickel centre in nickel brass ring
- Weight
- 12 g
- Diameter
- 28.4 mm
- Thickness
- 2.5 mm
- Mint
- Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom
- Shape
- Round
- Technique
- Milled
- References
- KM# 1052, Sp# K18
- Issuer
- United Kingdom
Design details
Obverse
Fourth crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, legend around. Script: Latin Lettering: ELIZABETH·II·DEI·GRA·REG·FID·DEF· IRB Unabridged legend: Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensatrix Translation: Elizabeth II by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith Engraver: Ian Rank-Broadley
Reverse
A circular arrangement of the symbols of state the mace, crosier and sword, dates and denomination around. Script: Latin Lettering: 1605 * 2005 TWO POUNDS Engraver: Peter Forster
Collector insights
- Design heritage: Ian Rank-Broadley, Peter Forster is credited as the designer for the Circulating commemorative coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
- Struck at: Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
- Low mintage: Only 74,642 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
- Catalogue reference: Listed as
KM# 1052, Sp# K18. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.
Related pieces
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Other 2 Pounds - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; Gunpowder Plot issues
Explore more
Browse more items in the full catalog or view United Kingdom in the country guide.