Whereas under section 3(1)(a), (b), (cc), (cd), (d) and (dd) of the Coinage Act 1971 We have power, with the advice of Our Privy Council, by Proclamation to determine the denomination, the design and dimensions of coins to be made at Our Mint, to determine the weight and composition of coins other than gold coins or coins of silver of Our Maundy money, and the remedy to be allowed in making such coins, to provide for the manner of measurement of the variation from the standard weight of coins, and to determine the percentage of impurities which such coins may contain:

And Whereas under section 3(1)(ff) of the Coinage Act 1971 We have power, with the advice of Our Privy Council, by Proclamation to direct that any coin shall be legal tender for the payment of any amount:

And Whereas it appears to Us desirable to order that there should be made at Our Mint a new series of coins of the denomination of five hundred pounds and two pounds in silver:

We, therefore, in pursuance of the said section 3(1)(a), (b), (cc), (cd), (d), (dd) and (ff), and of all other powers enabling Us in that behalf, do hereby, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council, proclaim, direct and ordain as follows:

FIVE HUNDRED POUND COIN

1. (1) A new coin of silver of the denomination of five hundred pounds shall be made, being a coin of a standard weight of 1005 grammes, a standard diameter of 100 millimetres, a standard composition of not less than 999 parts per thousand fine silver, and being circular in shape.

(2) In the making of the said silver coin a remedy (that is, a variation from the standard weight or diameter specified above) shall be allowed of an amount not exceeding the following, that is to say:

(a) a variation from the said standard weight of an amount per coin of 5 grammes; and

(b) a variation from the said standard diameter of 0.25 millimetres per coin.

(3) The variation from the standard weight will be measured by weighing each coin separately.

(4) The design of the said silver coin shall be as follows:

‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ · ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2016”, and for the reverse a design depicting Our Royal Cypher below Our five definitive coinage portraits and the inscription “THE LONGEST REIGN”. The coins will have a grained edge.’

TWO POUND COIN

2. (1) A new coin of silver of the denomination of two pounds shall be made, being a coin of a standard weight of 31.210 grammes, a standard diameter of 38.61 millimetres, a standard composition of not less than 999 parts per thousand fine silver, and being circular in shape.

(2) In the making of the said silver coin a remedy (that is, a variation from the standard weight or diameter specified above) shall be allowed of an amount not exceeding the following, that is to say:

(a) a variation from the said standard weight of an amount per coin of 0.150 grammes; and

(b) a variation from the said standard diameter of 0.125 millimetres per coin.

(3) The variation from the standard weight will be measured as the average of a sample of not more than one kilogram of the coin.

(4) The said silver coin shall be legal tender for the payment of any amount in any part of Our United Kingdom.

(5) The design of the said silver coin shall be as follows:

‘Either

(a) For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ · ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 2 POUNDS”, and for the reverse either:

(i) a stylised silhouette of the heads of three soldiers referencing the English cubism movement prevalent around the time of the First World War with the inscription “THE FIRST WORLD WAR 1914-1918”, and the date of the year;

(ii) a dagger through a crown accompanied by the inscription “WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 2016”;

(iii) a cap and bells with a jester’s stick accompanied by the inscription “WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 2016”;

(iv) a skull next to a rose accompanied by the inscription “WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 2016”; or

(v) a design showing the scene from the Bayeux Tapestry depicting King Harold with an arrow in his eye accompanied by the inscription “BATTLE OF HASTINGS 1066” and the date of the year; or

(b) For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ · ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 2 POUNDS · 2016”, and for the reverse either:

(i) a depiction of a lion, unicorn, stag and a dragon surrounding a crown; or

(ii) a crowned Royal Cypher above the number “90” encircled by roses; or

(c) For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ · ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2016”, and for the reverse a view across the River Thames of the City of London in flames with boats fleeing the burning city with the inscription “1666 THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON 2016 TWO POUNDS”.

The coins will have a grained edge.’

3. This Proclamation shall come into force on the fourteenth day of July Two thousand and sixteen.

Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace, this thirteenth day of July in the year of Our Lord Two thousand and sixteen and in the sixty-fifth year of Our Reign.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN