Picture this: you're rummaging through your loose change after a coffee run, and there, nestled between the everyday coppers, sits a coin that bridges four centuries of storytelling magic. The 2016 Shakespeare Histories £2 coin isn't just currency – it's a miniature tribute to the man who gave us Richard III's villainy, Henry V's stirring speeches, and kings both noble and mad. Released during the 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare's death, this coin transforms your pocket change into a portable piece of literary history.
Chapter 1
The Story Behind the Coin
2016 was no ordinary year for lovers of English literature. Four hundred years had passed since William Shakespeare laid down his quill for the final time, and Britain was determined to mark this monumental anniversary in style. The Royal Mint, never ones to miss celebrating our cultural treasures, launched an ambitious trilogy of £2 coins honouring the Bard's three great categories of work: the Comedies, the Tragedies, and of course, the Histories.
The Histories coin holds a special place in this triumvirate, celebrating those powerful plays that turned English monarchs into unforgettable characters. Shakespeare didn't just write about kings – he created legends. From the haunted Richard III crying 'A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!' to Henry V's rousing Agincourt speech, these weren't mere history lessons but dramatic masterpieces that shaped how we remember our past. The coin serves as a reminder that Shakespeare's histories remain more vivid and memorable than many actual history books, proving that sometimes fiction tells deeper truths than fact.
Shakespeare didn't just write about kings – he created legends.
Chapter 2
The Design
The Royal Mint's designers faced quite the challenge: how do you capture the sweeping drama of Shakespeare's histories on a surface smaller than a biscuit? The result is elegantly symbolic, featuring design elements that evoke the pageantry and power of medieval England. The coin's reverse celebrates the theatrical nature of these works, acknowledging that Shakespeare's kings live not in dusty chronicles but on the stage, where their passions and ambitions come thundering to life.
What makes this design particularly clever is how it manages to feel both historical and theatrical simultaneously. The Royal Mint understood that Shakespeare's histories aren't really about the past – they're about timeless human struggles for power, honour, and redemption, dressed in doublets and crowns. Every detail speaks to the dual nature of these works: they're history plays, but they're Shakespeare's history, filtered through the lens of genius and performed with all the drama that only live theatre can provide.
The coin captures not just history, but Shakespeare's history, filtered through the lens of genius.
Obverse & reverse — click to flip
Chapter 3
Collector's Corner
Mintage
5,655,000
coins struck
Florin House Rarity
Uncommon
classification
Value
£2.00
estimated market
With nearly six million examples minted, the Shakespeare Histories £2 is what we might call a 'democratic collectible' – accessible enough for newcomers to the hobby, yet meaningful enough to warrant a place in serious collections. You'll still find these coins in circulation occasionally, though they're becoming less common as collectors and Shakespeare enthusiasts gradually remove them from everyday use. It's the perfect entry point for anyone building a literary-themed collection or exploring British commemorative coinage.
The beauty of this coin lies not in its rarity but in its significance. While it won't make you rich, it represents something far more valuable: Britain's recognition of Shakespeare as our greatest cultural export. Smart collectors often seek out the complete trilogy of Shakespeare £2 coins, and this Histories edition completes that narrative beautifully. Keep an eye out in your change, and don't be surprised if finding one gives you the same thrill as discovering a forgotten First Folio – albeit one you can actually afford to keep!
It's the perfect entry point for anyone building a literary-themed collection or exploring British commemorative coinage.
Chapter 4
Did You Know?
Shakespeare wrote ten history plays, but they cover only about 200 years of English royal history, from Richard II to Richard III
The 2016 Shakespeare anniversary sparked a global celebration, with events in over 190 countries worldwide
This was part of the Royal Mint's first trilogy of £2 coins, with all three Shakespeare designs released in the same year
Shakespeare's history plays were actually political commentary on his own era, cleverly disguised as historical drama to avoid Tudor censorship
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