The Magna Carta £2 coin commemorates the 800th Anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta by King John at Runnymede in 1215.
The Magna Carta is a royal charter of rights that brought about the protection of church rights, as well as safeguards for barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limitations on payments to the Crown. Although initially a failure, the Magna Carta eventually became part of statute law in 1297.
History of the coin
The Magna Carta £2 coin holds historical significance and commemorates a pivotal moment in British history.
The Magna Carta, originally written in medieval Latin, translates to “Great Charter of Freedoms.” It was first sealed under oath by King John of England in 1215 at Runnymede.
The Magna Carta established fundamental rights and liberties, including protections for church rights, limitations on payments to the Crown, and safeguards against illegal imprisonment.
Despite its initial failure, the Magna Carta eventually became part of statute law in 1297.
Design of the coin
The reverse design of the Magna Carta £2 coin was created by John Bergdahl, who has worked on several other coin designs for the Royal Mint. It draws inspiration from 13th-century art and features King John alongside a baron and a bishop.
The edge inscription reads “FOUNDATION OF LIBERTY”, and around the design, you’ll find the inscriptions “MAGNA CARTA” and the date “1215-2015”, representing the 800th Anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta.
About the designer
John Bergdahl, an accomplished coinage artist, has made significant contributions to the world of numismatics through his captivating designs for UK coins and medals.
He entered the realm of coin design for The Royal Mint 15 years ago without any formal training. His journey began when he participated in an open competition to create designs for the definitive 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, and 50p coins. Although his entries were not selected as the winning designs, his talent caught The Royal Mint’s attention.
John Bergdahl is a sculptor by trade, and his artistic skills seamlessly transitioned into the world of coin design. His ability to capture historical themes and create visually appealing designs has made him a sought-after artist in the numismatic community.
The obverse of each coin shows the fifth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Jody Clark. This is the first time the portrait has been used on £2 coins, having only been unveiled in 2015.
Surrounding her head all around the outer circle is her legendary ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2 POUNDS which translates from Latin to mean Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.
Designed by Royal Mint engraver, Jody Clark, the fifth definitive UK coin portrait features a bust of Queen Elizabeth II wearing the King George IV State Royal Diamond Diadem Crown, which she wore for her Coronation in 1953. The initials JC, are just below the neckline of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Jody Clark chose this to link his design to the past as it was featured in the designs by both Raphael Maklouf and Arnold Machin. The Queen is also wearing the Diamond Jubilee drop pearl earring 's and her chin is lifted slightly.
Mintage of the Coin
The Magna Carta £2 coin was released in 2015 with a mintage of 1,495,000.
Additionally, there were other versions of the coin:
Limited Gold Proof Version: Mintage of 400.
Silver Proof Version: Mintage of 3,000.
Silver Piedfort: Mintage of 2,000.
These versions are uncirculated and intended for coin collectors
Two other commemorative £2 coins were minted in 2015 alongside the Magna Carta £2 coin. The 2015 First World War Navy HMS Belfast £2 coin and the 2015 Britannia 5th Portrait £2 which both had an extremely low mintage of just 650,000, making them very rare.
How rare is the 2015 Magna Carta £2 Coin?
The circulating mintage of 1,495,000 makes the Magna Carta £2 coin relatively rare, and its historical significance and appealing design contribute to its desirability among collectors. If you happen to find one in your pocket change, consider yourself fortunate.
Collectors highly value this rarity, contributing to its sought-after status.
How much is the 2015 Magna Carta Two Pound coin worth?
The 2015 Magna Carta £2 coin is worth around £8 in good condition, which is considerably more than face value and the value of this coin is steadily increasing.
Where can I buy the 2015 Magna Carta £2 Coin?
You can buy the 2015 Magna Carta £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.
Alternatively, you can buy it from us by clicking here.
Unfortunately, as this coin is now 9 years old, the Royal Mint no longer stocks 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 errors for this particular coin but there are a large number of fakes circulating of this coin for some reason.
Bit of trivia...
The Magna Carta was signed by King John in order to end a rebellion against the king by many of the powerful barons, or people who owned land. King John was already an unpopular king, because he had been defeated by France and lost many lands that had been part of England since The Battle of Hastings in 1066, including Normandy.
King John lost a lot of money during the war against France, and so he increased taxes on the barons to pay for these losses. This angered the barons and caused them to rebel against the king, and a group of 40 barons took over London in May 1215. This forced King John to negotiate with the barons, and the Magna Carta was signed in June 1215.