United Kingdom: Science fiction novelist H.G. Wells features on new range of £2 Proof coins

The Royal Mint has released new £2 coins in celebration of the life and work of H.G Wells by marking the 75th anniversary of his death.

Born on the 21st September 1866 in Bromley, Kent, Herbert George Wells was the son of a small shopkeeper though he grew up in relatively poor circumstances. As such, his education was lacking owing to limited resources by his family and this resulted in the young Herbert becoming a prolific reader to supplement his inability to attend classes. Remarkably, at the age of 18 he won a scholarship to study biology at the Royal College of Science, in South Kensington, London, later graduating from London University in 1888 earning credentials to find work as a science teacher. Though his first published book was on the topic of biology in 1893, his second book, a novel entitled The Time Machine, published in 1895, was immediately successful. With this early success, he began a series of science fiction novels that revealed him as a writer of marked originality and an immense prolificacy of ideas in this particular genre. The same year, his second novel entitled The Wonderful Visit was followed by a succession of successful works such as The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), The War of the Worlds (1898), The First Men in the Moon (1901), and The Food of the Gods (1904).

For a time, Wells and his fertile imagination acquired the reputation as a prophet of the future, and indeed, in his work entitled The War in the Air published in 1908, he foresaw certain developments in the military use of aircraft. Eerily, he foresaw the splitting of the atom and the creation of atomic bombs, which he included in his novel The World Set Free in 1914.

In terms of his overall popularity and works which were translated into many languages, Wells was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1921, 1932, 1935, and the year of his death, 1946. He so influenced real exploration of Mars that an impact crater on the planet was named after him in his honour.

Wells remained productive until the very end of his life, but shaken by the aftermath of two world wars, his attitude towards human advancement seemed to darken in his final days. Among his last works was Mind at the End of Its Tether in 1945 and was a pessimistic essay in which Wells contemplates the end of humanity. He died on the 13th August 1946 in London and was survived by his four children, Frank Wells and G. P. Wells, born during his marriage to Amy Catherine Robbins. His daughter Anna-Jane Kennard was born during his relationship with writer Amber Reeves and his younger son Anthony West was born during his relationship with author Rebecca West.

Designed by Chris Costello, the reverse side of this commemorative coin captures two specific iconic images from Well’s work, including The War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man. Below the primary design is the commemorative inscription 2021 H.G. WELLS.

The obverse side includes the fifth effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II created by engraver Jody Clark and introduced onto British coins in 2015. Each version includes an incused edge lettering which reads GOOD BOOKS ARE THE WAREHOUSES OF IDEAS

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Maximum Mintage
Two pounds	Bi-metallic	12 g	28.4 mm	Brilliant Unc.	Unlimited
Two pounds	.925 Silver	12 g	28.4 mm	Proof with gold plating	3,135
Two pounds	.925 Silver	24 g	28.4 mm	Proof with gold plating	985
Two pounds	.9167 Gold	15.97 g	28.4 mm	Proof	330

The Brilliant Uncirculated bi-metallic base metal coins are housed in a blister-pak type folder with informative text and illustrations.

The sterling silver Proof and silver Piedfort coins with selective gold-plating are presented in a custom black vinyl covered case and the gold Proof coins are presented in a polished hardwood case. All are accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the website of the Royal Mint.

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