1995 UK Coin £2 Silver Proof Peace Dove - WWII

Buy the 1995 50th Anniversary of the end of WWII Silver Proof £2 coin.

This beautiful coin features the dove of peace to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War II. This silver proof coin is a collector's piece that is issued in a presentation box with a certificate.

• Struck in sterling silver, 0.925 fineness
• Limited Mintage 35,751

£2 Coins

The Royal Mint produced two different, but complementary two pound coins in 1995. One was issued to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations in 1945. This coin was issued to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War.

The War Is Over

"The greatest outburst of joy in the history of mankind". With these words Winston Churchill captured the world's reaction to the happy news that, after almost six years, the War in Europe was finally over and that all hostilities were to cease after midnight on 8th May 1945, VE Day. Jubilant crowds sang and danced in the streets of London, New York, Paris, Moscow and in cities and towns throughout the world. In the Far East, however, the War continued. there the end came just three months later on 15th August, VJ Day, with the unconditional surrender of Japan, and Allied nations the world over were able to unite in joyful celebration.

Rebuilding And Restoration

With peace came the urgent need to rebuild and reconstruct city centres, an enormous task since in London alone 700,000 homes had suffered damage from bombs. But Britain, her resources all but exhausted, was described by the economist JM Keynes as facing a "financial Dunkirk". Crippling shortages meant that ration books were still to be found in every home and the depressing wartime "utility" clothing, specially designed to make the most of scarce resources, was to remain in vogue.

Even coinage did not emerge unscathed. Silver, for so many centuries an essential element of the currency, seemed an extravagant luxury in the years of austerity that would follow the War; indeed, to repay the 88 million ounces borrowed under the wartime Lend-Lease arrangement with the United States, there was no choice but to draw on the vast reservoir of silver contained in the coins in circulation. The old coins were accordingly replaced by cupro-nickel, to be greeted by critics as "drab, dreary, utility coinage" appropriate for the difficult years of economic recovery.

The obverse bears the third UK coin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II created by Ralph David Maklouf, FRSA. The coin bears the inscription: 

ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F·D · TWO POUNDS ·

The reverse bears the striking dove of peace design by John Mills.