A century has passed since the Royal Air Force (RAF) was first formed to defend the skies above Britain, and the U.K.’s Royal Mint is marking this memorable occasion with a series of five £2 commemorative coins, the first two of which are available now.
On April 1, 1918, the formation of the RAF—the world’s first independent air force—took place in Britain. A century later, the RAF is still recognized as a symbol of the skies and is known for its capability, courage and innovation. Its centenary is an opportunity to celebrate and commemorate the remarkable work the RAF has done and continues to do.
The £2 RAF centenary badge coin was designed by graphic designer Rhys Morgan.
“It was at a meeting of the Air Council that I discovered that the original RAF badge had been adopted in 1918, the year the RAF was formally created. It was approved in 1923 by the Royal College of Arms and has changed very little since then,” said Morgan. “It seemed the perfect way to capture the RAF’s continued strength, using the badge to symbolize its resilience over 100 years.”
In addition to the RAF centenary badge, the Royal Mint will also highlight one of the most famous aircrafts ever built—and certainly the most famous aircraft ever to fly with the Royal Air Force—the spitfire.
A £2 Spitfire coin is also part of the Royal Mint’s five-coin RAF centenary series.
The £2 Spitfire coin was designed by Richard and Neil Talbot.
“The key was to choose the right image so that we knew the relief would work—these aircraft can do all kinds of amazing things but we needed to be sure that the coins were easy to read and understand, so we had to be careful in the depictions we chose,” said the Talbots.
Both commemorative coins will be available in a range of finishes and available for purchase from the Royal Mint website, royalmint.com.
In addition to commemorative versions of the coin, the RAF Centenary Badge £2 coin and the RAF Centenary Spitfire £2 coin will also be landing in the pockets of the public as circulating coinage.
RAF CENTENARY BADGE £2 SPECIFICATIONS
| £2 Brilliant Uncirculated Coin | £2 Silver Proof | £2 Silver Proof Piedfort | £2 Gold Proof | |
| Denomination | £2 | |||
| Composition (inner) | Cupro-nickel | .925 sterling silver | .925 sterling silver | 916.7 yellow gold |
| Composition (outer) | Nickel-brass | .925 sterling silver Proof with .999 Fine gold | .925 sterling silver Proof with .999 Fine gold | 916.7 red gold |
| Weight | 12 grams | 12 grams | 24 grams | 15.97 grams |
| Mintage | Unlimited | 7,500 | 3,000 | 1,000 |
| Diameter | 28.40 mm | |||
| Obverse | Jody Clark | |||
| Reverse | Rhys Morgan | |||
| Edge inscription | Per Ardua ad Astra | |||
RAF CENTENARY SPITFIRE £2 SPECIFICATIONS
| £2 Brilliant Uncirculated Coin | £2 Silver Proof | £2 Silver Proof Piedfort | £2 Gold Proof | |
| Denomination | £2 | |||
| Composition (inner) | Cupro-nickel | .925 sterling silver | .925 sterling silver | 916.7 yellow gold |
| Composition (outer) | Nickel-brass | .925 sterling silver Proof with .999 Fine gold | .925 sterling silver Proof with .999 Fine gold | 916.7 red gold |
| Weight | 12 grams | 12 grams | 24 grams | 15.97 grams |
| Mintage | Unlimited | 7,500 | 3,000 | 1,000 |
| Diameter | 28.40 mm | |||
| Obverse | Jody Clark | |||
| Reverse | Richard Talbot and Neil Talbot | |||
| Edge inscription | Per Ardua ad Astra | |||