The Royal Mint has released a £2 coin commemorating the 200th anniversary of the National Gallery.
Designed by Edwina Ellis, the coin depicts the Gallery’s iconic home in Trafalgar Square. Surrounding the building’s Corinthian columns is an inscription, “MAIORVM GLORIA POSTERIS LVMEN EST,” translating to “the glory of our ancestors is a light to our descendants.” This phrase, found on the Gallery’s ceiling, symbolizes the inspiration passed from past artists to future generations.
• The coin, which was first released as part of the 2024 Annual Sets, is now available to purchase individually.
The Mint’s Rebecca Morgan expressed delight in celebrating the Gallery’s legacy. The coin will be included in a time capsule organized by the National Gallery as part of NG200 celebrations. Available in various editions, including Gold Proof and Brilliant Uncirculated, collectors can purchase the coin on The Royal Mint website.
Located in Trafalgar Square, City of Westminster, Central London, England, the National Gallery is an art museum established in 1824. It boasts a collection of over 2,300 paintings spanning from the mid-13th century to 1900. Among the more famous paintings housed at the museum is Titian’s Bacchus and Ariadne. It depicts a tale recounted by classical authors Ovid and Catullus. In the painting, the Cretan princess Ariadne finds herself abandoned on the Greek island of Naxos by Theseus, whose departing ship can be seen in the distance. The oldest painting in the National Gallery Collection is Tuscan artist Margarito d’Arezzo’s Virgin and Child Enthroned, dating back to 1263-4.