Florence Nightingale £2 Coin
In 2010 the Royal Mint produced the Florence Nightingale £2 coin. It commemorates the 100th anniversary of her death and the 150th anniversary of the publication of her book, Notes on Nursing.
The Royal Mint produced two limited edition versions; a silver proof coin for collectors and a regular version that went into general circulation. Both weigh around 12g and are 28.4mm in diameter. The edge inscription says ‘150 YEARS OF NURSING'.
The front features a profile portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley. The back shows two sets of hands, one checking the other's pulse. It was illustrated by Gordan Summers, Team Leader and Engraver at the Royal Mint.
£2 Silver Proof Coin
Only 5,117 silver proof £2 Florence Nightingale coins were issued. It's minted in sterling silver and the outer ring is covered in 24-carat gold leaf.
Proof coins are made to a higher standard than coins that go into general circulation, and a mint condition Florence Nightingale coin is a beautiful item for anyone's coin collection.
Florence Nightingale Coin in General Circulation
A commemorative £2 coin was also produced for general circulation. Only 6,175,000 were minted. This may sound a lot, but it is estimated that there are over 950 million £2 coins in circulation, so the chances of finding one in your change are fairly low.
The inner circle is made from cupro-nickel and the outer ring of nickel-brass. Cupro-nickel is an alloy of copper and nickel, whilst nickel-brass is an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel.
Other Valuable £2 Coins in General Circulation
There are other valuable £2 coins in circulation. The rarest is the Northern Ireland £2 commemorating the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Only 485,500 were produced. The Welsh, English and Scottish versions of this coin are also fairly sought after. Other rare £2 coins include the 2015 First World War Centenary (Navy), the 2016 Great Fire of London and the London 2012 Handover.