2005 UK Coin £2 Gold Proof 60th Anniversary End of World War II

This 2005 60th Anniversary of the End of WWII - St Paul's Cathedral £2 gold proof coin issued by The Royal Mint celebrates peace in Europe.

• Struck to a proof finish in 22 carat gold, 0.916 fineness
• Capital Gains Tax exempt
• British legal tender
• Limited mintage of 1,578
• VAT free Investment Gold

These coins were also issued as circulation coins and as collectable coins in Brilliant Uncirculated, silver proof and silver proof piedfort finishes.

End of World War 2

In 2005, two different commemorative two pound coins were issued by The Royal Mint. One to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the other to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot.

This £2 coin features an engraving of St Paul's Cathedral with the search lights illuminating the skies. Although the Germans made many attempts to destroy London, St Paul's Cathedral managed to survive the Blitz. The cathedral became a symbol of hope to war-torn Britain. Floodlit, in joyous contrast to the years of blackout, the beautifully detailed architecture of Christopher Wren is faithfully reproduced in stunning in proof quality.

Issue Limits

Struck in 22 carat gold, the coin features a red gold outer band around a yellow gold inner disc. The coin comes in a presentation case with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. The issue limit was 1,750 of this design, however, only 1,578 coins of this design were actually issued as individual coins. Another 1,346 were issued in sets.

Edge

The edge inscription bears the emotive words:

IN VICTORY: MAGNANIMITY, IN PEACE: GOODWILL

These words were part of the famous maxim that prefaces Churchill's history of the Second World War.

The obverse bears the fourth definitive UK coin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Ian Rank Broadley. His initials IRB are located below the Queen's portrait.

The coin features the inscription:

ELIZABETH II DEI GRA REG FID DEF

Designed by Robert Elderton, the reverse bears an engraving of one of London's greatest landmarks, St Paul's Cathedral. The building is bathed in floodlight to represent the searchlights that were used to defend London against German airstrikes. The reverse bears the inscription:

TWO POUNDS 1945 - 2005