2023 Flying Scotsman £2 Coin
The 2023 Flying Scotsman £2 is a Royal Mint collector issue that was never released into circulation. Value band: small premium. Here is how to recognize it, what makes one worth more and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 2023
- Issued as
- Collector packs and sets only
- Value band
- Small premium
- Designer
- John Bergdahl
Original illustration of the coin's shape and metal. Tap to flip. Not a picture of the actual design.
Face value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because prices change daily.
What is a 2023 Flying Scotsman £2 worth?
This design was never released into circulation. The Royal Mint sold it in brilliant uncirculated packs and annual sets, so almost every example is a collector piece. One found in change is still legal tender at 2 pounds; out of its pack it brings a small premium at most, while a coin still sealed in its original packaging is what collectors want.
What would make yours worth more:
- Uncirculated condition with crisp edge lettering
- Original Royal Mint pack or presentation folder
- A genuine mint error such as a misaligned or wrong edge, confirmed by an expert
For market prices, look at recent sold results for the same coin in the same condition, not asking prices.
Quick answers
- Is the 2023 Flying Scotsman £2 rare?
- It is scarcer than most £2 coins. It was never issued into circulation, so most examples are in collector packs.
- How many 2023 Flying Scotsman £2 coins were made?
- None were made for circulation. The Mint sold this design only in packs and sets.
- Who designed the 2023 Flying Scotsman £2?
- The design is credited to John Bergdahl.
- What is the 2023 Flying Scotsman £2 made of?
- Bimetallic: cupronickel center in a nickel-brass outer ring. It weighs 12.0 g and measures 28.4 mm.
- Is the 2023 Flying Scotsman £2 still legal tender?
- Yes. Every two-metal £2 coin, commemoratives included, is legal tender in the UK.
Why the 2023 Flying Scotsman £2 was made
The Flying Scotsman, LNER locomotive number 4472, was built at Doncaster in 1923. Few engines anywhere are as well known by name. It took its name from the express service between London and Edinburgh, which had run since the 1860s. In 1928 it hauled the first non-stop run of that service. In 1934 it became the first steam locomotive officially recorded at 100 miles per hour. After it retired from regular service it passed through private hands and long overseas tours, carrying several different numbers and liveries over the years. It was bought for the nation in 2004 and still runs on special trips. The Royal Mint celebrated its centenary with this two-pound coin in 2023.
The Flying Scotsman £2 didn't go into circulation. It was sold to collectors as a brilliant uncirculated coin and in the 2023 annual sets. Any one found in change came out of a collector pack and has been spent. It's legal tender at two pounds, so you can use it, but railway fans may be glad you didn't.
How to recognize it
John Bergdahl's reverse shows the Flying Scotsman at speed with steam pouring back over the boiler, with LNER 4472 1923 - 2023 inscribed below. The engine runs across the coin from side to side, so the long boiler and wheels take up most of the space. The edge reads LIVE FOR THE JOURNEY. The obverse carries King Charles III by Martin Jennings, as you'd expect on a 2023 coin. A steam locomotive on a £2 isn't unique, since the 2004 Trevithick coin shows one too, so the 4472 number, the 1923 - 2023 dates and the LIVE FOR THE JOURNEY edge are what confirm this design.
The other side carries Martin Jennings' portrait of King Charles III, first used in 2022.
2023 Flying Scotsman £2 by the numbers
No circulation mintage exists for the 2023 Flying Scotsman £2 because none were released to banks. The Royal Mint's other collector-only £2 coins dated 2023 were J. R. R. Tolkien, Edward Jenner and Ada Lovelace.
No commemorative £2 dated 2023 was released for circulation, which is why so many people hunting change for new designs never see this one.
What to check on your 2023 Flying Scotsman £2
- Read the edge. It should say LIVE FOR THE JOURNEY. A wrong or missing edge inscription is the quickest sign of a counterfeit.
- Check the two metals: a silver-colored center and a gold-colored ring, with the ring tight and level all the way around.
- Weigh it: a genuine two-metal £2 weighs 12.0 g. Fakes are often a little light and softer in detail.
- Compare the portrait and lettering with a known genuine coin. Blurry letters, a flat portrait or uneven spacing point to a copy.
With no circulation mintage, a spent Flying Scotsman £2 is uncommon in change. Railway enthusiasts add to the demand from coin collectors, which makes it one of the more sought after designs in this group. A crisp coin from a pack or set brings a collector premium, while a worn one usually brings a small premium. The fine steam lines and running gear soften with use. On a genuine coin the two metals show clearly different colors and fit together tightly. The King's portrait on the obverse should be sharp.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 2 pounds |
| Issuer | Royal Mint |
| Year | 2023 |
| Circulation mintage | None (collector issue) |
| Composition | Bimetallic: cupronickel center in a nickel-brass outer ring |
| Weight | 12.0 g |
| Diameter | 28.4 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Lettered: LIVE FOR THE JOURNEY |
| Designer | John Bergdahl |
| Portrait | Jennings |
Other 2023 £2 coins
| Coin | Circulation mintage | Value band |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 J. R. R. Tolkien £2 Coin | Collector issue | Small premium |
| 2023 Edward Jenner £2 Coin | Collector issue | Small premium |
| 2023 Ada Lovelace £2 Coin | Collector issue | Small premium |
| National Flowers £2 Coin (2023 to today) | – | Face value |
Frequently asked questions
What does the edge of the Flying Scotsman £2 say?
LIVE FOR THE JOURNEY. With the locomotive design and LNER 4472 1923 - 2023 on the reverse, it confirms the 2023 centenary coin, which carries King Charles III on the obverse.
How can you tell the Flying Scotsman £2 from the Trevithick £2?
Both show steam locomotives, but the Flying Scotsman coin is dated 2023, shows LNER 4472 1923 - 2023 and has King Charles III on the obverse. The 2004 Trevithick coin marks Richard Trevithick's locomotive of 1804 and carries Queen Elizabeth II.
Mintage figures: Two pound coin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Mint figures. How we build these pages.