2014 Trinity House Lighthouse Two Pound Silver Proof Coin
Trinity House was established when a guild of seafarers petitioned King Henry VIII in 1513 to create a fraternity of mariners ‘so that they might regulate the pilotage of ships in the king’s streams.’ This was in reaction to the poor conduct of unregulated pilots in the river Thames. In 1609, Lowestoft Lighthouse was the first major seamark built by Trinity House, but many more followed over the next two hundred years. By 1836, Trinity House was given the power to acquire and maintain all major lighthouses, light vessels, and buoys. 2014 saw the five hundredth anniversary of Trinity House’s formation and The Royal Mint released a special commemorative series of Two Pound coins, including this silver proof example. The reverse design was created by Joe Whitlock Blunder and David Eccles and features a lighthouse lamp editing beams of light across the coin’s face. Both artists had an existing passion for the sea, sailing, and traditional boats which comes across in their design. The lighthouse lamp was chosen as it was simple, impactful, and carries a weight of symbolism including safety, reliability, and tradition. The Trinity is represented by the three visible facets of the lighthouse. Around the gold band, a legend reads ‘1514 TRINITY HOUSE 2014,’ while the edge transcription summarises the responsibility of the organisation: ‘SERVING THE MARINER.’ On the opposite side is Ian Rank-Broadley’s popular portrait of Her Majesty the Queen, the fourth official effigy. This £2 is made from .925 sterling silver, while the exterior band is plated in fine gold to give the two-toned effect. It weighs 12.00 grams and has a diameter of 28.40 millimetres. The coin comes in its original black presentation case and box, with a numbered certificate of authenticity. It is one of 1,285 in this format. System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1[System.String] System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1[System.String]