Detailed Information

⚔️ 2016 Shakespeare Histories £2 – Brilliant Uncirculated

Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) bi-metallic £2 coin celebrating William Shakespeare’s history plays, with a crown and sword design. Struck for collectors and sold in Royal Mint packaging, not released in bulk for circulation.

BU Coin Summary & Key Facts

This is the Brilliant Uncirculated version of the 2016 Shakespeare Histories £2 coin, part of the three-coin Shakespeare £2 set. BU coins were sold directly to collectors, with a total BU mintage of 60,648 pieces across individual Royal Mint products and multi-coin sets.

📊 BU Specifications & Values

Core details specifically for the BU version of the Shakespeare Histories £2 coin.

Aspect	Figure	BU-specific notes
Denomination	£2 (Two Pounds)	Legal tender UK £2 coin; BU pieces were produced as collectible presentations, not bagged for banks.
Metal, weight & diameter	Outer ring: Nickel-brass Inner disc: Cupro-nickel Weight: 12.00 g Diameter: 28.40 mm	Standard UK bi-metallic £2 specification with a milled edge.
Year & theme	2016 – Shakespeare’s Histories	Issued for the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, focusing on his history plays such as the Henry and Richard cycles.
BU mintage (total)	60,648 BU	Total BU coins across all presentations, including 22,060 in the three-coin Shakespeare BU set (UK16S3BU) and the remainder in annual sets, PNCs and other official packaging.
Circulation mintage (reference)	5,655,000	Number of standard circulation coins; useful context for how scarce the BU presentation is by comparison.
Designers	Reverse: John Bergdahl Obverse: Jody Clark	Reverse shows a crown and sword; obverse carries the fifth definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Edge inscription	THE HOLLOW CROWN	Reference to Shakespeare’s history plays, especially Richard II; inscribed in incuse lettering around the edge.
Quality	Brilliant Uncirculated (BU)	Struck using specially prepared dies on clean blanks and handled carefully to preserve sharp detail and bright lustre – a higher finish than normal circulation coins.
Main BU packs / sets	UK16S3BU – Shakespeare 3-coin BU set Included in the 2016 UK Annual Coin Set (DU16) Appears in Shakespeare PNC / other distributor cards	The coin is most commonly encountered in the three-coin Shakespeare BU set and the 2016 year set.
Guide value (BU)	About £8–£9	Coin Hunter and set-level guides put the BU value around £8–£9 for a single coin in as-new condition, depending on packaging.

💡 Collector Notes – BU Version

The BU Shakespeare Histories £2 is the “crown and sword” chapter of the Shakespeare mini-set – same design as the coin you might find in your change, but in a much sharper, presentation-grade finish.

BU vs circulation:
- Circulation coins are bulk-struck, thrown into bags and bounced around tills and cash machines.
- BU coins are struck with fresher dies, on clean planchets, then packaged – so the crown, sword and inscriptions are much crisper, and the fields retain their mint lustre.
Design details to check on a BU coin:
- sharp points on the crown and clear detail in its arches and jewels,
- a clean outline on the sword’s blade and hilt,
- full, unflattened lettering in WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE and the date,
- a legible edge inscription, with minimal rim knocks.
Packaging & presentations: BU Histories coins appear:
- in the dedicated Shakespeare 3-coin BU set (Histories, Comedies, Tragedies),
- inside the 2016 Annual Coin Set, and
- in various PNCs and distributor cards.
Collectors usually pay a premium for complete, undamaged original packaging.
Rarity & demand: With only 60,648 BU coins against 5.65 million circulation pieces, the BU version is significantly scarcer in absolute numbers. Demand is steady from both £2 specialists and collectors trying to build a complete Shakespeare BU trio.
Collecting tip: If you’re building a Shakespeare £2 collection in BU, it’s worth matching format (all three in the same style of pack or all loose-but-graded BU) for a cleaner look in your album or display. Store packs flat and out of direct sunlight to avoid fading and warping.

Shakespeare Histories £2 Coin BU

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