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The £2 Coin Mystery: Why The 'Abraham Lincoln 2 Pound Coin' Doesn't Exist (And What You Really Have)

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The "Abraham Lincoln 2 Pound Coin" is one of the most persistent and fascinating myths in modern British numismatics, often appearing on auction sites with inflated price tags. As of today, December 25, 2025, there has never been an official United Kingdom two-pound coin issued by the Royal Mint featuring the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The coin that is repeatedly mistaken for the iconic American leader is, in fact, a commemorative piece honouring a British engineering legend.

This widespread misidentification stems from a remarkable visual similarity between President Lincoln and the subject of the actual coin, leading to confusion among collectors and the general public. Understanding the true identity and context of this £2 piece is essential for anyone looking to determine its real value and rarity.

The True Identity: Isambard Kingdom Brunel's £2 Coin

The coin that has caused such a stir in the collecting world is the 2006 Isambard Kingdom Brunel Engineer £2 Coin. This coin was released by the Royal Mint to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, one of the most ingenious and prolific civil engineers in history. The design's striking portrait is what leads so many to believe they have found a rare coin featuring Abraham Lincoln.

Biography of the Man on the Coin: Isambard Kingdom Brunel

  • Full Name: Isambard Kingdom Brunel
  • Born: April 9, 1806, in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
  • Died: September 15, 1859, in Westminster, London, England
  • Profession: Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Innovator
  • Key Projects/Achievements:
    • The Great Western Railway (GWR)
    • The SS Great Britain (the first iron-hulled, screw-propeller-driven ship)
    • The SS Great Western and SS Great Eastern (massive steamships)
    • The Clifton Suspension Bridge (completed posthumously)
    • The Thames Tunnel (with his father, Marc Isambard Brunel)
    • Paddington Station in London
  • Legacy: Often considered "one of the most versatile and audacious engineers of the 19th century."

The Brunel coin is actually one of a pair of £2 coins issued in 2006 to commemorate the engineer. The specific coin often mistaken for Lincoln is the one that features a portrait of Brunel, set against a background of a section of a bridge or viaduct, reflecting his career achievements.

The Brunel Design: Why the Lincoln Confusion is So Common

The visual confusion is understandable upon close inspection of the Brunel portrait on the reverse of the 2006 £2 coin. The design, created by Robert Evans, depicts a rugged, bearded man in a top hat, a common attire for Brunel in his famous photographs. However, the facial structure, beard style, and the distinctive top hat bear a strong, albeit coincidental, resemblance to the classic, instantly recognizable images of Abraham Lincoln.

The inscription on the coin's edge, which reads "SO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE," is a famous quote attributed to Brunel, referencing his vast number of simultaneous projects. This inscription is a definitive way to identify the coin as the Brunel commemorative piece, not a Lincoln coin. The obverse features the fourth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, common to all circulating UK coins of that era.

Mintage and True Value of the 2006 Brunel £2 Coin

The primary reason the "Abraham Lincoln 2 Pound Coin" is listed as "RARE" on sites like eBay is based on misinformed speculation. The truth is that the 2006 Brunel Engineer coin is relatively common. Its high mintage figures mean it is not a scarcity in the numismatic world, despite the persistent rumours.

  • Circulating Mintage: The Royal Mint released a significant number of the Brunel Engineer £2 coins into circulation. The mintage figure is confirmed to be approximately 7,452,250 to 7,928,250 coins.
  • Official Scarcity Index: Numismatic resources often rank this coin as 'Common,' with a low scarcity rating.
  • Actual Market Value: Due to the high mintage, a circulated 2006 Brunel £2 coin is generally only worth slightly more than its face value. Collectors typically value a circulated coin at around £2.80.
  • Uncirculated Value: Only coins in pristine, uncirculated condition, or those in official presentation packs, will command a higher premium, though still modest compared to truly rare coins.

The inflated prices seen on online marketplaces are almost always due to sellers capitalising on the common misconception, not the coin's intrinsic rarity. This piece is a fascinating example of coin misidentification driving market speculation.

How to Spot a Truly Rare £2 Coin (It’s Not Lincoln)

While the Brunel coin is not the rare find many hope it is, the UK does have several £2 coins that are genuinely rare and can fetch high prices from serious collectors. The value of these coins is typically driven by extremely low mintage numbers or confirmed minting errors.

If you are hunting for a valuable £2 coin, focus on these characteristics and entities instead of the mythical Lincoln coin:

  • Low Mintage Commemoratives: Look for coins with a mintage below 500,000. Examples include the 2002 Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland coin, the 2015 First World War Navy £2 coin, or the 2016 Shakespeare's Tragedies coin.
  • Minting Errors: These are the most valuable finds. Errors occur during the minting process and are often unique. Common errors to look for include:
    • Rotation Errors: Where the Queen's head on the obverse is significantly rotated relative to the design on the reverse. Some rotation errors can be worth upwards of £200.
    • Die Errors: Such as die cracks, retained major die breaks, or instances where the edge inscription is missing or misaligned.
    • The 'Missing Dot' Error: A famous error on some early technology-themed £2 coins.
  • The 1994 Prototype £2 Coin: A very rare, nickel-brass coin that was a trial piece before the bimetallic coins were introduced. Finding one of these is an exceptional discovery.

In conclusion, the "Abraham Lincoln 2 Pound Coin" is a numismatic ghost story. The real coin is a tribute to the celebrated British engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and while a fascinating piece of UK currency, its value remains close to face value. Always verify your coin's identity against the official Royal Mint catalogue and be wary of online listings that rely on common misidentifications to drive up prices.

The £2 Coin Mystery: Why the 'Abraham Lincoln 2 Pound Coin' Doesn't Exist (And What You Really Have)
abraham lincoln 2 pound coin
abraham lincoln 2 pound coin

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