UK 2014 £2 Coin Marks Centennial of the Commencement of the Great War, 1914-1918

The Royal Mint has unveiled the new design for one of the commemorative £2 coins which will be released into circulation for 2014. The first £2 commemorative design is dedicated to the centennial anniversary of the start of the First World War or, as it was called at the time, the Great War.

The conflict which as it was thought, a war to end all wars, began following the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne who was along with his wife – fatally shot in Sarajevo Bosnia, then a part of that vast Empire. This act alone was referred to later in history as “the shot heard round the world.” As alliances and defense treaties were enacted, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, together with the German Empire began hostilities with the Russian Empire, an ally of the Kingdom of Serbia, who supported independence of their Slavic kinsmen in Bosnia-Hercegovnia. France and Great Britain also enacted defense alliances with Russia and before long, the continent of Europe was a-light – hopelessly fighting with each other, old enemies and rivals reviving old hatred and trying to settle old scores in what was to become one of the bloodiest conflicts Europe had ever seen.

Large & small countries were drawn into this battle which eventually saw the United States, a continent & ocean away enter the war on the side of the UK & France. What was to ensue were some of the heaviest battles which were to be recorded in history along with place names as the Somme, Ypres and Gallipoli with fighting spanning as far as the Middle East, Africa – even in the Pacific. After four years of battle, Europe found itself without three of its Emperors, those of Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia were all either deposed or abdicated. New border lines were drawn, new countries emerged, the United States also emerged a much stronger country with a greater say in world affairs both economically and militarily. The League of Nations was organized, a world body supposed to be able to debate and solve political disputes without the need for war.

The coin, designed by artist/sculptor John Bergdahl, includes one of the era’s most recognizable images, that of the powerful likeness of the call to arms by Lord Kitchener. Under Lord Kitchener’s portrait, the text “YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU” is also included. Around the primary design is the text “THE FIRST WORLD WAR 1914-1918”. The obverse of the bi-metallic coin carries the current portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS as well as the coin’s denomination.

This coin is the start of a five year programme which will see the release of a new coin until 2018 which will highlight specific and memorable dates and event anniversaries of World War I. The BU base metal version of the coin is scheduled for release later this year. The £2 coin will be struck in sterling silver, as a silver piedfort and in 22 carat gold. The precious metal versions will be launched later in 2014.

For more information on this and other coins on offer by the Royal Mint, please visit their website at: http://www.royalmint.com/ Information offered in English – international orders fulfilled.