In a decision that will likely raise a few eyebrows, the Royal Mint has come up with a new design for the £2 coin which will go into circulation at the start of 2014 – Lord Kitchener as he appeared in the famous WWI recruitment poster with his equally famous line, “Your country needs YOU”.
the coin is part of the raft of new mintage set to celebrate British anniversaries including the centenary of the start of WWI.
The Royal Mint is set to release new designs for five denomination of coins –a 50 pence piece that marks the Commonwealth Games which will happen in Glasgow this year; two designs for two-pound coins, the one featuring Lord Kitchener and another which gives tribute to the 500th anniversary of the Trinity House, the coastal defenses which protected Britain’s waters since 1514; and two one-pound coins featuring the Scottish thistle and the Irish shamrock.
The Mint’s five new coins to go into circulation at the start of 2014.
The design on the WWI commemorative two-pound coin contains the instantaneously recognizable stance of Lord Kitchener and his pointed finger completed by his famous words which calls British men to arms for the First World War.
As Kevin Clancy, Royal Mint Museum director, puts in:
“There is a program of coins to mark the centenary of the beginning of the First World War,” he said.
“They will track its way over the next five years, but there will be a £2 coin to mark the outbreak of the war next year and it’s got a very familiar design: Lord Kitchener pointing out from the face of the coin as he did from the contemporary posters asking people at the time to sign up for the army.”
WWI poster of Lord kitchener and his famous words calling British men to arms for WWI.
Putting floral emblems on the £1 coins was just a continuation of what was done last year with a rose for England and for Wales, a daffodil. It will go on with the addition of coins featuring a thistle for Scotland or a flax plant for Northern Ireland.
The Mint’s new designs will be completed with a special edition of £5 coin to mark the 300th anniversary of Queen Anne’s death. This will be created by sculptor Mark Richards.
