BY THE QUEEN

A Proclamation

DETERMINING THE SPECIFICATIONS AND DESIGN FOR A TWO-POUND SILVER COIN

ELIZABETH R.

Whereas under section 3(1)(a), (b), (cc) and (d) of the Coinage Act 1971 We have power, with the advice of Our Privy Council, by Proclamation to determine the denomination, design and dimensions of coins to be made at Our Mint, and 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 the making of such coins:

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 coins of the denomination of two pounds in silver:

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

THE TWO-POUND COIN

1. (1) A new coin of silver of the denomination of two pounds shall be made, being a coin of a standard weight (including the gold plate) of 32.454 grammes, a standard diameter of 40 millimetres, and a standard composition (excluding the gold plate) of 958.4 parts per thousand fine silver, being selectively plated with gold, and being circular in shape.

(2) In the making of the said silver coin a remedy (that is, a variation from the standard weight, diameter or composition 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 (measured as the average of a sample of not more than one kilogramme of the coin) of 0.14 grammes;
(b) a variation from the said standard diameter of 0.125 millimetres per coin; and
(c) in relation to those parts of the coin other than the gold plating, a variation from the said standard composition of five parts per thousand fine silver.

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

‘For the obverse impression Our effigy plated with gold with the inscription “ELIZABETH . II . D . G REG . FID . DEF” and the value of “. 2 . POUNDS .” and for the reverse either:

(a) a gold-plated figure of Britannia standing in a chariot drawn along the seashore by two horses, with the word “BRITANNIA”, the inscription “ONE . OUNCE . FINE . SILVER .” and the date of the year;
(b) a gold-plated figure of Britannia standing upon a rock in the sea, her right hand grasping a trident and her left hand resting on a shield and holding an olive branch, with the word “. BRITANNIA .”, the inscription “. . ONE . . OUNCE . FINE . SILVER .” and the date of the year;
(c) a gold-plated figure of Britannia, as guardian, with a shield in her left hand and a trident in her right hand, accompanied by a lion and, against the background of a wave motif, the inscription “ONE OUNCE FINE SILVER” to the left and the word “BRITANNIA” and the date of the year to the right;
(d) a gold-plated helmeted head of Britannia with, to the left, the word “BRITANNIA” and, to the right, the inscription “ONE OUNCE FINE SILVER” and the date of the year, the whole being overlaid with a wave pattern; or
(e) a gold-plated seated figure of Britannia facing to the left holding a trident with a shield at her side, with the word “BRITANNIA”, the inscription “ONE OUNCE FINE SILVER” and the date of the year.

The coin shall have a milling on the edge which shall be plated with gold, and the outer rim of the obverse and reverse shall also be plated with gold’.

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

2. This Proclamation shall come into force on the thirteenth day of October Two thousand and five.

Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace, this twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord Two thousand and five and in the fifty-fourth year of Our Reign.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN