2013 London Underground Two Pound Brilliant Uncirculated 2 Coin Set

2013 was the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Metropolitan Railway in London, which was the world’s first underground railway. The Royal Mint marked the anniversary with the release of several commemorative Two Pound coins, with this being a pre-owned brilliant uncirculated set. In 1863 a crowd of 40,000 people gathered to witness the opening of what would later become the Metropolitan line of the London Underground. It used steam locomotives, which created the problem of pollution in the form of clouds of smoke, but thankfully the line was electrified in 1905 (the first Underground line to be electrified was the Northern line in 1890). Fast-forward to the 21st century and there are now around 270 stations with 250 miles of track stretching under (and occasionally over) the ground through the capital. These two BU coins are displayed side by side in the presentation sleeve; one features the front of a train, while the other features the iconic underground roundel. The former was jointly designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osbergy and has the front of a stylised Tube train. The second coin of this pair uses a similar line texture, with the Underground roundel sign in front. Today it is instantly recognisable and inspired Edwina Ellis’ design. The obverse side of both £2 coins shows the fourth definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, by Ian Rank-Broadley. Specifications of both coins are a bimetallic alloy of cupronickel in the centre and a nickel-brass outer ring, a total diameter of 28.40 millimetres and a total weight of 12.00 grams each. It comes issued in the original limited edition packaging from The Royal Mint.