Great Fire of London 2 Pound Coin

Introducing the Great Fire of London 2 Pound Coin

To remember this devastating day in British history, the Royal Mint released the Great Fire of London 2 pound coin in 2016. The Great Fire of London in 1666 ultimately changed how London would be seen today. The great conflagration was started from the bakery of Thomas Farriner on Pudding Lane and then spread through the city’s crowded wooden and other fire-ready structures. Over the five days of its destruction, it’s estimated to have made 80% of the population homeless and caused serious damage to St Paul’s Cathedral. 

Great Fire of London 2016 2 Pound Coin

The Great Fire of London 2 pound coin’s design shows terrible plumes of smoke erupting from the fire-consumed city below from the vantage point of a Londoner who found safety on the Thames. The design is by Aaron West, a member of the Royal Mint’s graphic design team. Inscribed along the edge of the coin are the words from John Evelyn’s diary about the Great Fire, ‘The Whole City in Dreadful Flames.’ 

In an interview with the Royal Mint, Aaron West talked about the toughest part of the design. “The flames took the longest time to design as there was a lot of back and forth with The Royal Mint Advisory Committee in order to get the flames right. Creating the plumes of smoke was tricky, I used a line effect to give the impression of high, thick smoke, and I deliberately let the design spill over the border to convey that sense of the fire being uncontrollable.”

(Caption: Painting of Great Fire of London)

How Much is the Great Fire of London 2 Pound Coin Worth?

The Royal Mint minted only 1.6 million of these coins, making them a less common find. As of 2019, on eBay, the highest price for a circulation coin is £10.01. 

Other Versions of the Great Fire of London Coin

There are other, precious metal, versions of the coin as well. The Gold Proof version has a mintage of 260, Silver Proof version has a mintage of 1,600, and Silver Proof Piedfort has a mintage of 1,300. There is also the Brilliant Uncirculated version as well.