Mary Rose 2 Coin

Introduction to Mary Rose 2 Pound Coin 

The Royal Mint celebrated the Mary Rose’s 500 year anniversary of her maiden voyage with the release of this 2-pound coin. Built to be the powerful flagship in King Henry VIII’s growing navy, the Mary Rose was named after the king’s favourite sister, Mary Tudor. Construction started in 1509 and finally ended in 1511. The Mary Rose was built to be able to get close to enemy ships, fire, and then allow her soldiers to board. The ship was involved with three campaign against France, with the third campaign being her last. The Mary Rose was somehow stuck during the of Battle of the Solent on 19 July 1545 in the English Channel. The reason why she sank is still debated. The ship was rediscovered in 1971 and then raised from the ocean in 1982. This project has become one of the most expensive and complex in maritime archaeology. A museum in Portsmouth opened in 2012 to house the ship and share its history. 

Mary Rose 2011 2 Pound Coin

The Mary Rose 2 pound coin features the Tudor ship sailing the seas. Designed by John Bergdahl, the waves of the water and flags give an illusion of movement to the ship. ‘The Mary Rose’ in a Tudor script is at the top of the coin. The edge inscription has the words, ‘Your Noblest Shippe 1511.’

John Bergdahl found inspiration when he visited the Mary Rose museum. “I was immediately inspired by the only acknowledged painting of this iconic vessel, an image that I used as the basis for my design.”

(Caption: The Mary Rose Ship as Depicted in the Anthony Roll)

How Much is the Mary Rose 2 Pound Coin Worth?

The Mary Rose coin has a mintage of 1,040,000, making it a scarce coin, very similar to the King James Bible coin also released in 2011. The highest auction price on eBay for a circulation coin was £5.01 as of 2019. 

Other Versions of the Mary Rose Coin

The Royal Mint has released other versions of the Mary Rose 2 pound coin for collectors and maritime enthusiasts alike. There’s the Gold Proof version (mintage of 700), Silver Proof version (mintage of 6,800), Silver Proof Piedfort (mintage of 2,000), and Brilliant Uncirculated version.