The Marconi £2 coin, often referred to as the ‘Wireless Transmission £2 coin’, or simply ‘2001 £2 coin’, was one of the first commemorative £2 coins released post-1996 – but what how much is it worth today?
On average, the Marconi £2 is worth £2.65 according to the most recent values on eBay in 2022. Proof versions are substantially more valuable but need to be certified before you can sell them.
Let’s dive into the details of the coin to see whether it’s rare and which other versions are valuable.
How Many Marconi £2 Coins Are There?
The Marconi £2 had a mintage of 4,558,000, which is a relatively large amount for a £2 coin.
It was one of the first commemorative £2 coin designs introduced post-1996 when the old style £2 coins were replaced by the bi-colour design that we are familiar with today. In fact, the only commemorative design £2 coin issued before the Marconi £2 coin was the 1999 Rugby World Cup £2.
It was also issued in proof versions, which are summarised in the table below alongside the mintage and estimated values.
| Version | Mintage | Estimated Value |
| Brilliant Uncirculated | 57,741 | Around £10 |
| Proof (First Day Cover) | 49,372 | £10 to £20 |
| Silver Proof | 11,488 | £20 to £30 |
| Silver Proof In Set With Canadian $5 | 4,803 | Around £40 |
| Silver Proof Piedfort | 6,759 | £30 to £60 |
| Gold Proof | 1,658 | Around £1,000 |
Why Is The Marconi £2 Coin Referred To As The Wireless Transmission £2 Coin?
While researching this coin you may come across the name ‘Wireless Transmission £2 coin’, which stems from the design of the coin.
Essentially, there are no words on the reverse design of the coin and the pattern is quite hard to understand at first. This leaves the edge inscription – which reads ‘Wireless Bridges The Atlantic Marconi 1901’ – as the origin for the nickname ‘Wireless Transmission’.
You may also find it simply referred to as the 2001 £2 coin due to the numbers on the design.
Is The Coin Rare?
The mintage of the Marconi £2 is too large for it to be considered rare, even though it has been in circulation for quite a long time.
Proof versions are much rarer, as intended, and if you come across one of these they are considerably more valuable – just make sure you have a certificate of authenticity.
If you want to look out for rarer £2 coins, keep an eye out for coins such as the Northern Ireland Commonwealth or 2012 Olympic Handover coins.
‘Wireless Transmission’ £2 Coin Design
The reverse of the Marconi two pound round coin features a design that reflects circles expanding out from the date 2001. The zeros inside the date stamp are connected with a spark and surrounded by radio waves.
Four beams radiate from the 2001 date mark until they reach the outer edge of a 4-band spiral, each containing two sets of three dots representing the Morse Code letter “S”.
The centre bottom is marked with capital letters that spell out “TWO POUNDS”. The design was the work of Robert Evans whose initials are imprinted toward the bottom centre, just above the “Two Pounds” stamp.
Around the edge of the coin is an inscription that reads “Wireless Bridges The Atlantic Marconi 1901”.
Are There Any Error Versions?
The edge inscription of this coin can be ‘upside down’, but this is not an error and rather a product of the manufacturing process.
Aside from this detail, there aren’t any confirmed errors for this coin. If you see a listing on eBay or another similar platform that claims there is an error version you should avoid it.
What Does The Coin Represent?
The 2001 Marconi coin is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first transatlantic wireless transmission. This important historic and technological event was the work of Marconi.
Guglielmo Marconi was an Italian inventor and electrical engineer who became known for his successful long-distance wireless radio transmission. The coin represents his successful attempt to send a wireless transmission across the Atlantic in 1901.
Communication transmission was thought to be impossible, and even crazy. After the Italian government had written his request for funding off as a lunatic with nonsensical and insane ideas, he went to Great Britain.
It was from Poldhu in Cornwall that he would successfully send the letter “S” in Morse Code, consisting of three dots, to Signal Hill in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
His successful wireless transmission would be the start of communication across radio waves. His innovative ideas and inventions were intended to be used for far more than mere entertainment on the radio. His invention was lauded for saving numerous lives.
He would go on to be credited for saving lives during the sinking of the Titanic and the Lusitania since it was through a radio call for help that brought rescuers to save many who would have otherwise drowned or been left for dead.