No ordinary UK £2 coin depicts Abraham Lincoln. The design that is often mistaken for him shows the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and was issued in 2006 to mark 200 years since his birth.
Brunel’s top hat, cigar and sideburns explain the comparison. This guide identifies the two 2006 Brunel £2 designs and explains why a listing described as an “Abraham Lincoln £2” needs a closer look.
Did The Royal Mint Really Make A Coin For An American President?
The coin was not created for Abraham Lincoln. It is one of two 2006 £2 coins issued to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the British engineer. The Royal Mint identifies the portrait design as Brunel alongside the Royal Albert Bridge.
The resemblance comes from the portrait: Brunel is shown wearing a top hat and smoking a cigar, features also associated with Abraham Lincoln. The design should be identified by the coin’s official subject and details, not by a marketplace title.
Creating the reverse design of a coin is not an easy task. The small scale and monotone colour make it difficult to outline intricate detail and it is one of the reasons you don’t frequently see portraits on a reverse design.
The current monarch’s portrait will always be featured on the obverse but when you look at the current designs, do they really look like the queen? Or do you not even think about it because you know it is the queen?
When it comes to recreating a person’s image, their most recognisable features are often emphasised to make it clearer who they are. In the case of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it just so happens that his most famous portrait image is of him wearing a top hat, smoking a cigar, with his sideburns clearly on display.
Unfortunately for him, there is another famous historical figure who was also well known for wearing a top hat and for having thick sideburns.
Looking at the coin’s reverse design, even we can admit the similarities and we can certainly understand how some people would think the coin actually depicts Abraham Lincoln.
Despite this, it’s still important for everyone to recognise who the coin was made for and why the achievements warrant it in the first place.
Who Was Isambard Kingdom Brunel?
Born in 1806, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was one of the most versatile engineers of the 19th century. Working on a wide range of projects from the Thames Tunnel to redesigning the docks of Bristol and Cardiff, Brunel’s work has left a lasting impact on several aspects of the UK’s infrastructure.
His life’s work gained him significant notoriety within the industry and his passion for improvement across many specialities continues to inspire engineers to this day.
Brunel became chief engineer of the Great Western Railway in 1833. His work included the railway’s bridges, tunnels and viaducts, and the Paddington Station design on one of the 2006 £2 coins refers to that work.
As a commemoration of this significant feat, the main terminus of the Great Western Railway (Paddington Station) was featured on one of the two coins minted in Brunel’s honour.
Another of Brunel’s significant areas of interest was the design of bridges, many of which still stand to this day. Not least of his designs is the spectacular Royal Albert Bridge which crosses the River Tamar and is considered to be one of the greatest bridges in the world.
Examining his work it becomes clear why Brunel was chosen to become a part of British coin history to mark the 200th anniversary of his birth. Perhaps even more clear is the fact that his name should be internationally recognised for his contributions to engineering.
What Are The designs Of The Brunel £2 Coins?
As a man of many interests and certainly of many achievements, it seems only fitting that the Royal Mint commissioned two coins to be minted in Brunel’s honour. Both designs put the spotlight on some of his most notable works.
2006 Isambard Kingdom Brunel Engineer £2
As the first of the two coins released in Brunel’s honour, the reverse design depicts a portrait of Brunel himself and NOT Abraham Lincoln as many have come to think.
He can be seen wearing a top hat and smoking a cigarette/cigar, replicating his famous photo from 1857. The design was created by Rod Kelly and features the Royal Albert Bridge in the background as a tribute to one of his most loved works.
The coin’s design is encircled by chain links which have come to be symbolic of Brunel’s work. The edge inscription reads ‘1806-1859 ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL ENGINEER’.
2006 Isambard Kingdom Brunel Paddington Station £2
The second of the coins minted in Brunel’s honour focuses on what many consider to be his greatest engineering feat – the Great Western Railway.
The reverse of the coin, designed by Robert Evans, depicts a dramatic image of Paddington Station which is the main terminus of the railway. Avid collectors would recognise a similar image on one of the Paddington Bear 50p coins.
The design has the inscription of ‘BRUNEL’ beneath the main arches of the station’s roof as a subtle nod to its designer.
The edge inscription read ‘SO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE’, most likely in reference to the several areas of engineering to which Brunel lent his expertise.
How Much Are The Isambard Kingdom Brunel £2 Coins Worth?
The Royal Mint’s mintage figures list 7,928,250 coins for the Brunel portrait design and 7,452,250 for the Brunel achievements design. These figures help explain why the coins are relatively common compared with scarcer £2 issues. See the Royal Mint’s £2 mintage figures for the design breakdown.
There is no single current price for either coin. The amount a buyer will pay depends on the design, condition, packaging, and the sale price of comparable coins. A dealer’s asking price is not the same as a completed sale, and old eBay estimates should not be treated as current values.
If you are checking a coin you own, compare completed sales for the same Brunel design and condition. Be cautious when a listing uses the name Abraham Lincoln or claims an ordinary mark is a rare minting error.
Are There Any Error Versions?
Listings using the name ‘Abraham Lincoln £2 coin’ can misidentify the Brunel portrait design. A marketplace title is not evidence that the coin was issued for Lincoln or that it is rare.
Prices vary by condition, packaging and the result of an individual sale. Do not treat an asking price or an undated listing as proof of a coin’s market value.
No official minting error is identified in the Royal Mint’s standard description of these designs. A possible error needs separate evidence, such as a recognised variety or specialist examination; a seller’s description alone is not enough.
Final Thoughts
The so-called Abraham Lincoln £2 is a misidentification of the 2006 Isambard Kingdom Brunel portrait £2. The top hat, cigar and sideburns make the comparison understandable, but the coin’s subject is Brunel.
The two Brunel £2 designs are collectible circulating coins, but their mintage figures mean that the ordinary versions are not automatically rare. Check the design, condition and evidence from comparable completed sales before judging what a particular example may be worth.
For more information, see the Royal Mint’s description of the Brunel portrait £2. The Coin Expert does not provide individual valuations or identify coins from photographs.
How to assess a coin’s value
A coin’s value depends on what it is, its condition and the evidence available for comparable sales. A listing price is an asking price, not proof of what a buyer paid. When comparing examples, record the date, condition, design or variant and whether the sale was completed.
Use official specifications to check the denomination, design and physical details before comparing prices. The Royal Mint publishes coin designs and specifications, as well as UK circulating-coin mintage figures. Mintage can help describe a coin’s production history, but it does not set a sale price.