Abbotsford House, The Home of Sir Walter Scott.
Scottish Borders, Scotland.
The Royal Mint unveiled a commemorative £2 coin to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth. The coin is pictured with Matthew Maxwell Scott, a direct descendent and Trustee at Abbottsford – home of 19th century novelist and poet. (Photo Phil Wilkinson)
One of the most influential Scots in history, Sir Walter Scott is renowned for his contribution to literature with his novels and poems, many of which remain literary classics to this day.
Marking the 250th anniversary since his birth, Scott’s legacy has been celebrated for the first time on official UK coin. Available in gold, silver and brilliant uncirculated, the commemorative keepsake was first unveiled in the 2021 Annual Set and today launches as an individual collectors’ item at The Royal Mint.
Designed by textual artist Stephen Raw, the coin was inspired by the artist’s visit to Abbotsford, the famous home of Sir Walter Scott. On the canvas of a £2 coin, the words Sir Walter Scott and Novelist, Historian and Poet are inscribed in the same calligraphy seen at Abbotsford’s grand entrance and chapel. The design also includes Scott’s portrait modelled on the Scott Monument – one of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks.
To celebrate the launch, the Original Maker collaborated with Scott’s Abbotsford home and Trustee and direct descendant, Matthew Maxwell Scott – the great, great, great, great grandson of the famous writer.
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- 250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir. Walter Scott 2021 UK £2 Gold Proof Coin obverse
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- 250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir. Walter Scott 2021 UK £2 Gold Proof Coin reverse
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- 250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir. Walter Scott 2021 UK Silver obverse
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- 250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir. Walter Scott 2021 UK Silver reverse
Clare Maclennan The Royal Mint’s Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin said: “Sir Walter Scott’s status as one of Great Britain’s greatest writers endures 250 years after his birth and the anniversary celebration is a wonderful occasion to commemorate his legacy on a £2 coin.
“The exquisite design, with the inscription Novelist, Historian and Poet, reminds us of the wide-reaching influence of his work. What a treat is has been to reveal this collectable piece of art in collaboration with his great, great, great, great grandson Matthew Maxwell Scott and the fantastic team at Abbotsford, the famous home of Walter Scott, as part of their Anniversary celebrations.”
Matthew Maxwell Scott, Trustee at Abbotsford, said: “I’m extremely proud to see my ancestor recognised on a very special coin from The Royal Mint – a fitting tribute during a year of 250th birthday celebrations. It is a beautiful coin. Sir Walter was a collector of beautiful things and I think he would have loved to have this coin in his collection among the many treasures at Abbotsford.”
Giles Ingram, CEO at Abbotsford, said: “This year we are commemorating the 250th Anniversary of Sir Walter Scott, which is a great occasion to look at Scott’s work and legacy. At Abbotsford, we were delighted to be approached by The Royal Mint to collaborate with them on this beautiful coin. Recognising Scott as Novelist, Historian and Poet, 250 years after his birth on, such a beautiful coin and packaging, truly marks Scott as one of the world’s most famous writer’s and one of Scotland’s most influential sons.”
Speaking of the design, Stephen Raw, who also designed the Sherlock Holmes coin in 2019 and the First World War Armistice coin in 2018, said:
“Sir Walter Scott was such a fascinating character, there were so many routes that you could explore. Being a textual artist, I’m fascinated by lettering and I chose a combination of distinctive Gothic lettering from the chapel at Abbotsford alongside some lettering used by Scott in the magnificent entrance to his home.
“As for the portrait, I used the wonderful sculpture of Scott that sits within his monument on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. I hope that collectors enjoy the design and that when people see the coin, they might be encouraged to visit Abbotsford and the Scott Monument – the second largest such memorial to a writer in the world they say.”
More information about the coin, in a range of precious metals, can be found at The Royal Mint.
| Coin title | 250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir. Walter Scott 2021 UK £2 Gold Proof Coin | 250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir. Walter Scott 2021 UK £2 Silver Proof Piedfort Coin | 250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir. Walter Scott 2021 UK £2 Silver Proof Coin | 250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir. Walter Scott 2021 UK £2 Brilliant Uncirculated Coin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denomination | £2 | £2 | £2 | £2 |
| Issuing Authority | UK | UK | UK | UK |
| Alloy | Inner: 916.7 Au Yellow Gold, Outer: 916.7 Au Red Gold | Inner – 925 Ag/ Outer – 925 Ag plated with fine gold | Inner – 925 Ag/ Outer – 925 Ag plated with fine gold | Inner – Cupro-nickel/ Outer – Nickel-brass |
| Weight | 15.97g | 24.00g | 12.00g | 12.00g |
| Diameter | 28.40mm | 28.40mm | 28.40mm | 28.40mm |
| Obverse Designer | Jody Clark | Jody Clark | Jody Clark | Jody Clark |
| Reverse Designer | Stephen Raw | Stephen Raw | Stephen Raw | Stephen Raw |
| Quality | Proof | Proof | Proof | Brilliant Uncirculated |
| Edge Lettering | THE WILL TO DO, THE SOUL TO DARE | THE WILL TO DO, THE SOUL TO DARE | THE WILL TO DO, THE SOUL TO DARE | THE WILL TO DO, THE SOUL TO DARE |
| LEP | 175 | 771 | 1,771 | Unlimited |
| RRP | £1,095.00 | £117.50 | £72.50 | £10.00 |
