2005 Gunpowder Plot £2 Coin

This page contains information about the coin struck to mark the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot.You can use the coin quick links below to find key information fast.

Buy, Sell or Swap on the Coin Hunter Facebook Group - join the group and post an image of the actual 2005 Gunpowder Plot £2 Coin you would like to swap or sell, or post to ask for this coin and give details of the price you are willing to pay or coins you are willing to swap.

Guy Fawkes Portrait

The 1605 Gunpowder Plot was a failed assassination attempt on King James I. Guy Fawkes, with his group of conspirators planned to load the basement of the House of Lords with gunpowder and set it off during the opening of parliament on 5th November 1605.

An anonymous letter was sent to one of the members of the House of Lords, exposing the plot. A search was made of the House of Lords, and Guy Fawkes was caught setting up the gunpowder. Others in the group fled when they heard Fawkes had been caught. Eight of the survivors were caught (including Fawkes) and were sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered.

The King celebrated by having a bonfire, which has evolved into the Bonfire Night which we still celebrate today. In 2005, a £2 coin was issued to celebrate the 400th anniversary of this event.

The reverse design by Peter Forster shows symbols of the state - swords, maces and crosier – arranged in a circle, much like a Catherine Wheel firework. The stars around the edge of the coin also allude to the firework celebrations we have today. The obverse features the 4th portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley. The edge inscription states "REMEMBER REMEMBER FIFTH OF NOVEMBER" the rhyme which arose with bonfire celebrations.

Coin Checker hand with 2005 Gunpowder Plot £2

Join the Coin Hunter community to help complete your coin collection: Join Coin Hunter free and you could find this coin using our online coin hunt app. Any coins you find and lock, including the 2005 Gunpowder Plot £2 coin can be yours.

Find out which other £2 coins are rare or valuable, visit the £2 Coin Value index page to learn more about UK coins in circulation and new releases.

Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot £2 Coins in Coin Foam

Display or store your £2 coins: Keep your Gunpowder Plot £2 Coins in an album or display frame made using our exclusive Coin Foam. Each A4 sheet holds 20 £2 or 50p coins.

You could keep your spare Gunpowder Plot coins together without having to keep them in a coin bag. Coin foam can be used to organise your collection and your spares, whist avoiding damage that can occur when coins knock together. Order A4 sheets from the Coin Hunter Shop.

Alloy (Inner)
Cupro-nickel

Alloy (Outer)
Nickel-brass

Weight
12.00g

Diameter
28.4mm

Reverse Designer
Peter Forster

Obverse Designer
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Year
2005

Mintage Figure
5,140,500

Minting errors: Is there a Gunpowder Plot £2 coin mint error?

Sellers of coins from circulation would like to sell coins for as much over face value as possible, so often refer to "rare mint error" in the description on marketplaces such as eBay. If you are looking to buy this coin, read this first to ensure you do not pay far more than the coin is worth as a collector item.

No mint errors for this coin have been confirmed by The Royal Mint.

Misaligned dots

On the Obverse (heads) side of the coin, there are small raised dots around the edge of the silver coloured section of the coin. On some coins these dots may be offset, so, for example they may appear away from the edge above the Queens head and be very close the the edge or missing from the opposite side (below the Queens neck).

This is common on all two pound coins minted before 2015 and is not considered a minting error.

Part of edge letter missing

The inscription on the side of the coin seems to have the letter P where a letter R should be. For example PEMEMBER PEMEMBER FIFTH OF NOVEMBEP.

This is not a minting error, the tail of the capital R will often line up with a line on the milled egde of the coin. So it cannot be seen clearly and makes a letter R look like a letter P.

Edge inscription upside down

The inscription on the edge of the coin REMEMBER REMEMBER FIFTH OF NOVEMBER is upside down when the coin is Obverse (heads) side up.

This is common on all two pound coins and is not a minting error as the inscription is not struck a certain way up. Any two pound coin can have the writing on the edge any way up.

UK Decimal Coins | Coins for Sale | Coin Valuations | Coin Dealers | Great British Coin Hunt