The 2013 Anniversary of the Golden Guinea £2 Coin: A Glimpse into History
Introduction
In 2013, the Royal Mint celebrated the 350th anniversary of the Guinea by minting a special £2 coin. This coin paid homage to the Guinea’s legacy.
The Golden Guinea was undoubtedly the major British coin of the eighteenth century. It emerged in 1663, following the English Civil War, when the republican issues were replaced with a more impressive coinage bearing the portrait of the newly restored King Charles II
The Guinea was named for the shape of its shield, resembling a garden tool—a spade. Let’s delve deeper into the fascinating history of this coin.
Origins and Significance
The Guinea was born in the aftermath of the English Civil War. As the monarchy was restored, a new coinage was needed to reflect the authority of the newly crowned King Charles II.
The Guinea’s design featured a shield-shaped motif, reminiscent of a spade. This unique shape set it apart from other coins of the time.
The Guinea was minted in gold, making it a valuable and prestigious coin. Its purity and weight contributed to its popularity.
Legacy and Collectibility
The Guinea was the dominant coin of the eighteenth century, replacing the earlier hammered coinage. It’s design showcased the skill of engravers and artists. Its intricate details reflected the era’s commitment to craftsmanship and signalled the end of handmade coinage.
Design and Symbolism
The Reverse
Anthony Smith’s design pays homage to the original Spade Guinea, last struck in 1813. Here’s what the reverse reveals:
The central motif features an interpretation of the original Spade Guinea design—a nod to the coin’s historical roots. The Spade Guinea, minted in 1663, was named for the shape of its shield, resembling a garden tool.
Surrounding the Spade is a circular border containing the words “ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOLDEN GUINEA 2013.” This roundel encapsulates the essence of celebration and continuity.
Encircling the milled edge are the words of Stephen Kemble, a nineteenth-century poet: “WHAT IS A GUINEA? 'TIS A SPLENDID THING.” This line, taken from his work, continues with the phrase, “Which represents our sovereign lord the King.”
The Obverse
The obverse features the classic portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley. However, what sets this coin apart is the omission of the denomination “TWO POUNDS” on the reverse.
Instead, it has been incorporated into the obverse, discreetly displayed at the bottom.
Specifications
- Denomination: £2
- Obverse Designer: Ian Rank-Broadley (portrait of Queen Elizabeth II)
- Reverse Designer: Anthony Smith ARBS
- Edge Inscription: “WHAT IS A GUINEA? 'TIS A SPLENDID THING”
- Mintage for Circulation: 2,990,000
Mintage of the Coin
The Royal Mint's official mintage of this £2 commemorative coin is 2,990,000
The 2013 Anniversary of the Golden Guinea £2 coin holds historical weight. Its mintage of 2,990,000 places it in the realm of less rare circulation coins. For context, this mintage is similar to the 2009 Robert Burns £2 coin which had a mintage of 3,253,000 and the 2014 Trinity House £2 coin which had a mintage of 3,705,000.
Other collectors' versions of the coin were minted and the figures for the Guinea design are shown below:
Brilliant uncirculated versions - 23,843
Silver Proof versions - 2,625
Silver Proof Piedfort versions - 1,455
Gold Proof versions - 343
Scarcity of the coin
In 2013, three commemorative £2 coins were made available, The London Underground Train £2 coin, the London Underground Roundel £2 coin and the 2013 Anniversary of the Guinea £2 coin, along with the Technology coin which had a mintage of 15,860,250. Two commemorative 50p coins, the 2013 Christopher Ironside 50p, and the 2013 Benjamin Britten 50p were also released in this year.
The 2013 Anniversary of the Golden Guinea £2 coin has a fairly low mintage and it is likely you have received one of these coins in your change.
How much is the 2013 Anniversary of the Golden Guinea Two Pound coin worth?
The coin, in circulating condition is worth around £4.20 without shipping, which is considerably more than face value and the values increasing.
Where can I buy the 2013 Anniversary of the Golden Guinea £2 Coin?
You can buy this coin by clicking here.
You can buy the circulated version of the Anniversary of the Golden Guinea £2 coin online on auction sites such as eBay or Amazon but please ensure you look at all the information and reputation of the seller.
Unfortunately, as this coin is now over 11 years old, the Royal Mint no longer stock this coin so it is only available to buy on the secondary market.
Are there any known errors of this coin?
The Royal Mint has not confirmed any official errors for this coin so please beware of any sellers trying to inflate the selling price by claiming they have an error coin.
The writing on the side of the coin can be either one way or the other and there is an equal chance of it being either upside down or the other way, it is not an error.
Bit of trivia...
Minted between 1663 and 1813, the Guinea coins marked a significant milestone in English coinage as the first machine-struck coins. The name “Guinea” pays homage to the Guinea Coast in West Africa, where much of the gold used to create these coins was sourced.