The King James Bible £2 coin has been in circulation for just over 10 years and is quite unusual to find in your change, but how much is it worth today?
According to the most recent values on eBay in 2022, the King James Bible sells for an average of £4.78 in circulated condition. Uncirculated and proof versions can be much more valuable, however.
If you want to learn more about this coin then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get into the specifications so you can see what makes this coin worth almost £5 to collectors!
King James Bible £2 Mintage
The 2011 King James Bible two pound coin had a mintage of 975,000, which is quite small for a £2 coin.
Is The King James Bible £2 Rare?
With a mintage of just under 1 million, the King James Bible £2 is the 8th rarest £2 coin in current circulation. Other £2 coins with a similar rarity include the Mary Rose, Magna Carta and Olympic Centenary coins.
This is the reason for the high selling price on secondary markets, and also explains why the coin is rare to come across in your change.
If you happen to own a King James Bible £2, it might be worth holding onto it as the value will only increase through the years.
Other Versions
The Royal Mint also produced the coin in uncirculated versions for collectors which ranged from brilliant uncirculated all the way to gold proof.
You can find these versions with their respective mintages below, as well as estimated retail values.
| Version | Mintage | Estimated Value |
| Brilliant Uncirculated (in sets/folder) | 56,268 (set mintage unknown) | £20-£40 |
| Proof | 28,974 | N/A |
| Silver Proof | 4,494 | £60 – £80 |
| SIlver Proof Piedfort | 2,394 | £80 – £150 |
| Gold Proof | 355 | £1,000 to £2,000 |
Coin Design
The reverse of the special commemorative King James Bible two pound round coin features a design that was to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the printing of the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
The reverse was designed by both Paul Stafford and Benjamin Wright.
It features the words “In the beginning was the Word” inscribed on the right side to replicate the black letter typeface used in the first edition of the Bible’s printing. The same inscription is shown on the left in reverse as if each letter is on a type block. This image depicts the printing of the Bible. The text on the right is recessed whereas the text on the left is raised.
In an arc at the top of the reverse side are the words KING JAMES BIBLE. On the bottom centre are the dates 1611-2011 to indicate the 400 years the Bible version has been in print.
Around the milled edge of the coin is the inscription THE AUTHORISED VERSION.
The obverse of the coin features the Fourth Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right that appeared on the two pound coin from 1998 to 2015. Her Majesty is wearing the “Girls of Great Britain and Ireland” diamond tiara. The tiara was a wedding gift in 1947 from Queen Mary, her grandmother.
Are There Any Error Versions?
There are no confirmed errors for the King James Bible £2, although there are a few unusual characteristics that you may suspect as errors at first.
These include things like the edge inscription being upside down, as well as the dots on the obverse being offset.
Both of these are common on £2 coins minted before 2015 and are a result of the manufacturing process.
What Does The 2011 King James Bible £2 Coin Represent?
This two pound coin celebrates the 400th anniversary of the completion of the printing of the King James Bible.
The King James Version is an English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England. The translation and printing of this version began in 1604 and was completed in 1611. The 1611 version is still in use today.
In 1604, the Church of England commissioned an English translation of the Christian Bible. In 1611, under the sponsorship of King James VI, the new version of the Bible was printed. This special commemorative coin represents the 400th anniversary of this printing.
The printing block design on the coin is a beautiful reminder of the important role that the moveable-type printing press played in history. It was needed for the mass production of the printed word.
The 1611 Bible is considered one of the most important books in English culture. The first official printing included 39 books of the Old Testament, an intertestamental section of 14 books of the Apocrypha, and 27 books of the New Testament.
