In 2016, the Royal Mint took centre stage to commemorate the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death with a trio of captivating £2 coin designs consisting of the Comedies, Histories and Tragedies designs.
Of the three, the Shakespeare Comedies £2 coin stands out as a delightful celebration of the bard’s lighter side.
For collectors, the Shakespeare Comedies £2 coin represents more than currency; it encapsulates the bard’s wit, humour, and enduring legacy. Whether tucked away in a collection or admired in the palm of your hand, this coin invites you to step onto the world’s stage and embrace the drama of numismatic storytelling. Let’s delve into the details of this numismatic gem.
History of the coin
The Shakespeare Comedies £2 coin was minted in 2016 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of the renowned playwright and poet, William Shakespeare.
William Shakespeare was born in the picturesque town of Stratford-Upon-Avon. His christening took place on the 26th of April, 1564, though the exact day of his birth remains a mystery. Shakespeare is widely acclaimed as one of the most eminent poets and playwrights in history.
During his life, he wrote 154 sonnets and 37 plays, like Macbeth, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Shakespeare passed away on April 23, 1616 at 52.
Design of the coin
Designed by John Bergdahl, this coin draws inspiration from one of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
The design features a whimsical jester’s hat and cane, symbolizing the humour and playfulness found in Shakespeare’s comedies.
The jester’s hat symbolizes mirth, jest, and the theatrical spirit, while the cane adds a touch of mischievous elegance.
Around the milled edge, the inscription “ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE” reminds us that life itself is a grand performance, echoing the bard’s timeless words.
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.
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 Shakespeare Comedies £2 coin has a mintage of 4,355,000, making it the lowest mintage among the three Shakespeare coins. While this mintage is not exceptionally low for a £2 coin, its allure lies in its connection to Shakespeare’s wit and laughter. Collectors seek out this coin not only for its scarcity but also for its thematic resonance.
The Shakespeare Tragedies £2 coin had a mintage of 4,615,000 and the Histories £2 coin, slightly more at 5,655,000.
Other £2 coins released into circulation that year include the 2016 Great Fire of London £2 coin with a relatively low mintage of 1,625,000 and the 2016 First World War Army £2 Coin that had a high mintage of 9,550,000
Additional versions were minted of the 2016 William Shakespeare Comedies £2 coin namely Brilliant Uncirculated coins in a presentation folder, Silver Proofs, Silver Piedfort Proofs and Gold Proof versions.
How rare is the 2016 William Shakespeare Comedies £2 Coin?
In terms of rarity, the Comedies £2 is not to be the rarest £2 coins in circulation due to its relatively high mintage of just over 4 million.
Although you are still able to find one in your change, the 'Jester' £2 coin has been in circulation for over 8 years now, and with coin collectors adding them to their collection thus taking them out of circulation, these coins are becoming harder and harder to find. If you do happen to find one, it is definitely worth hanging on to.
How much is the 2016 William Shakespeare Comedies Two Pound coin worth?
The 2016 Comedies £2 coin is worth around £6 in good condition, which is considerably more than face value and the value of this coin is steadily increasing.
Where can I buy the 2016 William Shakespeare Comedies £2 Coin?
You can buy the 2016 Comedies £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 8 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 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...
According to a 2016 report, A Midsummer Night's Dream gets the most professional performances nowadays, accounting for more than 7% of all Shakespeare performances. Together, Parts 1 and 2 of Henry VI were the least performed.