1998 Shoulders Of Giants Technology Definitive Two Pound Piedfort Silver Proof Coin
The new bi-metallic Two Pound coin was first struck in 1997 before it was introduced to currency in 1998. The first struck carry Raphael Maklouf’s portrait of The Queen which is the third official effigy used on British decimal currency, while the 1998 versions such as this Piedfort example use Ian Rank-Broadley’s fourth portrait of Her Majesty which was used between 1997 and 2015. The Royal Mint celebrated the release of one of the first bi-metallic designs in hundreds of years with this gold plated silver proof coin. This coin bears the same design as contemporary general circulation cupronickel £2 coins. The reverse shows Bruce Rushin’s intricate technology-inspired design. Despite having no previous experience in coin design, Rushin won a public competition to design the new £2. The pattern represents innovation down the centuries, from the Iron Age through to the Industrial Revolution, the silicon chip, and the era of the internet. The edge inscription reads ‘STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS’, taken from a letter by Isaac Newton. Struck in 24.00 grams of .925 sterling silver, this double thickness 1998 edition is from a limited mintage of 7,646 coins. The outer ring is plated with fine gold. Offered in its original box with a certificate of authenticity. System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1[System.String] System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1[System.String]