Commemorative VE Day £2 coin released to mark 75th anniversary

The Royal Mint has released a commemorative £2 coin for purchase as it says “thank you” to the wartime generation on the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

The coin has been created in association with the Imperial War Museum to “capture the spirit and stoicism of the wartime generation and the gratitude of those that followed”, the Royal Mint said in a statement.

The £2 coin and an accompanying historic set of coins used in the Second World War era are available to buy, and the Royal Mint plans to release the new coin into circulation if there is enough demand.

The Mint will also strike a limited edition of 750 sovereigns featuring Benedetto Pistrucci’s iconic St George and the dragon design on the anniversary of the day this Friday.

The £2 coin – pictured, featuring smiling faces and the word “Victory” against a backdrop of rays redolent of search lights – was designed to symbolise the first steps towards peace and recovery after the war.

“Iconic images of VE Day serve to remind us of the magnitude of events,” the coin’s designer Dominique Evans said. “Millions came together in the streets to celebrate the end of the war in Europe, inspiring me to put people at the very heart of this coin.

The rays evoke search lights, a familiar sight in the skies during wartime, except here they represent rays of hope.ve Day is still a piece of living history. ”

The Royal Mint’s divisional director of commemorative coins, Clare Maclennan, said it was hoped the coins would help unite the nation amid trying times caused by the coronavirus.

“Our VE Day commemorative coin was inspired by a shared sense of community and loyalty,” she said. “During these challenging times, it feels especially important that we come together to protect the older generation that sacrificed so much for us.”

The VE Day coin and historic sets are available from www. royalmint.com in a range of precious metal and base proof finishes, with prices starting from £10.

A donation from each coin purchased will go to the Imperial War Museums.