The London Underground Train £2 Coin: A Commemoration of Transit History
Introduction
The London Underground was designed to address the growing need for transportation in London amidst a significant surge in population during the early 19th century. It was constructed as part of the groundbreaking Metropolitan Railway, the world's first underground passenger-carrying railway system.
The tunnels were originally constructed using a cut-and-cover method, involving digging a trench and roofing it over with an overhead support system. This approach gave rise to the underground nickname 'the tube,' which is still used today.
The London Underground, affectionately known as the “Tube,” is not just a transportation network—it’s a cultural icon. Since its inauguration in 1863, it has woven itself into the fabric of the city, connecting neighbourhoods, cultures, and histories. The Train £2 coin, minted in 2013, celebrates this remarkable feat of engineering and endurance.
In 2013, the Royal Mint released two different London Underground £2 coins – the Train design and the Roundel design. They were made to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the London Underground, which began service on the 10th January 1863 and to this day serves over a billion passengers every year.
In this article, we'll look a little closer at the Train design.
Design and Symbolism
The Reverse
Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby’s design captures the essence of urban transit. The Tube train emerges from a tunnel, its headlights piercing the darkness.
The linear representation of the Tube map surrounds the train, emphasizing the intricate web of interconnected routes that crisscross London. This coin encapsulates the fusion of art, engineering, and everyday life.
The edge inscription, “MIND THE GAP,” echoes the cautionary message heard by millions of commuters daily.
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
The 2013 London Underground Train £2 coin was part of a series of commemorative coins issued to mark significant events.
- Denomination: £2
- Obverse Designer: Ian Rank-Broadley (portrait of Queen Elizabeth II)
- Reverse Designer: Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby (Train design)
- Edge Inscription: “Linear representation of the Tube map”
- Mintage for Circulation: 1,690,000
Mintage of the Coin
The Royal Mint's official mintage of this £2 commemorative coin is 1,690,000
The 2013 London Underground Train £2 coin holds historical weight. Its mintage of 1,690,000 places it in the realm of rarer circulation coins. For context, this mintage is similar to the 2015 Magna Carta £2 coin with a mintage of 1,495,000 and the 2016 Great Fire of London £2 coin with a mintage of 1,625,000.
Other collectors' versions of the coin were minted and the figures for the Train design are shown below:
- Brilliant Uncirculated version – 34,400
- Silver Proof version – 5,231
- Silver Proof Piedfort version – 672
- Gold Proof – version 199
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 London Underground Train £2 coin has a relatively low mintage but it is likely you have received one of these coins in your change.
How much is the 2013 London Underground Train Two Pound coin worth?
The coin, in circulating condition is worth around £4.70 without shipping, which is considerably more than face value and the values increasing.
Where can I buy the 2013 London Underground Train £2 Coin?
You can buy this coin by clicking here.
You can buy the circulated version of the Underground Train £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...
Liverpool Street station is built upon an ancient burial site and in 2015, archaeologists unearthed 3,000 skeletons. That’s possibly why it’s one of London’s most haunted tube stations....