Brunel 2 Pound Coin

Introducing the Isambard Kingdom Brunel 2 Pound Coin

In honour of Isambard Brunel’s 200^th birthday, in 2006, the Royal Mint released two special 2-pound coins, one of which focused on his great achievement of London Paddington Station. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born 9 April 1806 in Portsmouth and eventually became one of the greatest mechanical and civil engineers of the Industrial Revolution. His designs revolutionised engineering and public transport as we know it today. It’s because of him that London has Paddington Station as the main terminus of the Great Western Railway. 

Isambard Kingdom Brunel 2006 2 Pound Coin

This Isambard Kingdom Brunel 2 pound coin honour one of Brunel’s greatest achievements, Paddington Station. The elegant roof curves swiftly to the right and houses his last name, Brunel. Designed by Robert Evans, the coin also has an edge inscription, ‘So Many Irons in the Fire,’ taken from one of Brunel’s diaries, about the number of projects he was working on at the time. The obverse design is of the portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS. 

(Caption: Photograph of Isambard Kingdom Brunel Standing Before the Launching Chains of the Great Eastern, by Robert Howlett)

How Much is the Brunel 2 Pound Coin Worth?

Also known as the ‘Brunel Paddington Station’, the coin has a mintage of 7.5 million. It’s a common coin to find. Surprisingly, though, on eBay as of 2019, the highest price paid has been an amazing £784 for a circulation coin! The second highest price for another circulation coin? £8.50. This is a great illustration of how mintage values and perceived rarity ultimately won’t matter to buyers. (Although it’s also a wonderful example of how being more informed on a coin will help you find the best prices.) 

Other Versions of the Brunel 2 Pound Coin

The other 2- pound coin released to celebrate Brunel’s 200^th birthday features a portrait of the man himself. This coin is also known as the ‘Brunel Man’ or ‘Brune Portrait’ 2-pound coin.  

The other variants of the Brunel Paddington Station 2-pound coin are Brilliant Uncirculated, Silver Proof (mintage of 20,000), Silver Proof Piedfort (mintage of 5,000), and Gold Proof (mintage of 1,500).