Detailed Information

👑 2016 Shakespeare Histories £2 Coin – Circulating

Bi-metallic £2 coin issued in 2016 to mark 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare, celebrating his history plays with a crown and sword design. One of three Shakespeare £2 coins and a familiar “crown and dagger” find in change.

Summary of Value & Key Facts

The Shakespeare Histories £2 was struck for general circulation and is still commonly found in change. With a circulation mintage of around 5,655,000, it is classed as a common modern £2 coin, usually worth only a modest premium over face value in circulated condition.

📊 Key Figures (Circulating Coin)

Core specifications and guide values for the standard circulating 2016 Shakespeare Histories £2 coin.

Aspect	Figure	Notes
Denomination	£2 (Two Pounds)	UK bi-metallic commemorative £2 coin issued for general circulation in 2016.
Metal, weight & diameter	Outer ring: Nickel-brass Inner disc: Cupro-nickel Weight: 12.00 g Diameter: 28.40 mm	Standard UK £2 specification with a milled edge.
Year of issue	2016	One of three Shakespeare £2 designs (Histories, Comedies, Tragedies) marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.
Circulation mintage	5,655,000	Official circulation mintage; Change Checker rates it Scarcity Index 1 – Common.
Quality (this coin)	Circulating	Standard circulation-grade coins; the Royal Mint product you referenced is circulation quality re-acquired from the secondary market.
BU mintage (for reference)	60,648 BU	Brilliant Uncirculated coins sold in Royal Mint packs and other BU products (22,060 in RM packs, the rest in sets and cards).
Designers	Reverse: John Bergdahl Obverse: Jody Clark	Reverse shows a crown and sword (often read as a dagger); obverse carries the fifth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Edge inscription	THE HOLLOW CROWN	Line associated with Shakespeare’s history plays, especially the Henriad cycle; struck in incuse lettering around the edge.
Typical value (circulated)	About £2 to £3	Coin Hunter gives a face-value guide for basic circulation coins but also quotes an estimated value of about £3.01 based on recent market data.

💡 Collector Notes (Circulating Coin)

Within the Shakespeare £2 trio, Histories is the “crown and sword” coin – less meme-able than the skull, less playful than the jester, but thematically very Shakespearean and visually quite bold in hand.

Commemorative theme: Marks the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, specifically honouring his history plays – especially the “hollow crown” cycle, like Richard II and the Henry plays.
Reverse design: John Bergdahl’s reverse features a Tudor-style crown above a vertically placed sword/dagger, with the legend WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE and date 2016 around the inner disc. The imagery hints at royal power, conflict and the fragile nature of kingship.
Rarity & scarcity: With 5.6 million coins minted, Histories is:
- more common than the Tragedies £2,
- rarer than many very-high-mintage £2 designs,
- but still firmly in the “common commemorative” camp overall.
Scarcity is driven more by demand (Shakespeare fans, £2 collectors) than by the raw mintage figure.
Edge inscription myths: As with other £2 coins, some sellers describe “upside-down edge inscription” examples as errors. In reality, the inscription THE HOLLOW CROWN can appear either way up relative to the heads side, and this is completely normal – not a mint error and does not add value.
Circulated vs BU vs proofs:
- Circulated: Found in change with the usual bag marks and wear; generally worth around face value to a little more.
- Brilliant Uncirculated (BU): Sold in Royal Mint packs and three-coin sets; sharper strike and higher-quality finish, with guide values around £7–£9.
- Proof / precious metal: Silver proof, silver piedfort and gold proof versions were also issued in much smaller numbers for higher-end collectors.
Collecting tip (circulated): For a nice album example, look for:
- good detail on the crown and sword hilt,
- clean, readable WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE and date legends,
- an edge inscription that is complete and not heavily dinged.
Higher-grade circulation coins with minimal wear sit at the top of the value band.

Shakespeare Histories £2 Coin

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