Contents:
Who here hasn’t heard of Shakespeare? I’m sure you did. His literary works influenced the world, and coinage is another part of this world that he influenced. In 2016, he got a £2 piece dedicated to him.
What is the William Shakespeare 2 pound coin 2016 value? Does it have any varieties or errors of note? We will learn about this and much else in this article.
AI develops so quickly. It can help you write, program, and now it can help with coin recognition. Check out an AI Coin Identifier for yourself.
About William Shakespeare 2016 £2 Coin
To mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and showcase three staple themes of his works: Tragedies, Comedies, and Histories, the Royal Mint decided to make a special piece, the 2016 William Shakespeare commemorative £2 coin series.
Commemorative coins are a popular “trend” nowadays, celebrating important historical figures. The US citizens might remember a recent 2024 Harriet Tubman coin, celebrating the deed of an inspiring woman of color.
But let’s return to the esteemed English writer. Material-wise, it's not much different from other UK £2 coins. Copper-nickel + 2 ring construction.
William Shakespeare £2 coin 2016 | |
Country | United Kingdom |
Years of Minting | 2016 |
Type: | Standard circulation |
Shape: | Round |
Composition and metal content | Outer ring: Nickel-brass (76% copper, 20% zinc, 4% nickel) Inner disc: Cupro-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel) |
Diameter | 28.4 mm |
Weight | 12.0 g |
Varieties and Different Designs
Often, commemorative coins carry different designs in one year's edition. You might have noticed that the 2009 penny looks different, too, because it had a few designs reflecting Lincoln’s life.
In the case of Shakespeare, he had 3 designs, reflecting the founding themes of his works: Tragedies, Comedies, and Histories.
These different designs appeared on the reverse, and at the same time, they shared the same obverse, featuring Queen Elizabeth II. There are inscriptions “ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · 2 POUNDS”. We can extend these indications: “Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.”
Tragedies: Skull & Rose
The design incorporates a skull entwined with a rose, symbolising themes of love and death from Shakespeare’s tragedies. The skull itself is said to be inspired by Yorick's skull from Hamlet.
The edge inscription reads “What a piece of work is a man” (from Hamlet).
About 5.6 million William Shakespeare 2016 £2 coin skulls entered circulation.
Comedies: Jester’s Hat & Stick
The pound features a jester’s hat and stick, capturing the humour of Shakespeare’s comedies.
The edge inscription reads “All the world’s a stage” (from pastoral comedy As You Like It).
About 4.3 million William Shakespeare 2016 £2 coin jester coins circulated.
Shakespeare Histories: Crown & Dagger
The reverse shows a crown and dagger, reflecting Shakespeare’s dramatic history plays of overthrown kings and lost power.
The edge inscription reads “The hollow crown” (a passage in Shakespeare's play Richard II).
Around 5.6 million William Shakespeare 2016 £2 coin crowns were minted.
2016 William Shakespeare 2 Pound Coin Minting Error
Collective pieces are very desirable, but coins with errors are even more valuable. You might think that, considering a relatively modern mintage (2016), these coins should have no errors. Yet, even today, mishaps happen on minting presses.
Out of 3 editions, only one was reported with a special error, the Tragedies Coin (with Skull and Rose)
The intended edge inscription should read “What a piece of work is a man” (from Hamlet), but some were struck with the wrong inscription, “For King and country”.
When these coins with wrong inscriptions were found, they made it into the news. The value usually starts from £55.
Perhaps, with time, new errors will be identified. Most coins come from the Mints with errors like:
Off-centre strike: The design isn’t centred. Sometimes a part of the coin is blank because the design is shifted from the spot it was supposed to take.
Double strike: The coin was struck more than once, leading to overlapping images. Rare and valuable error.
Broadstrike: The bit was struck without the collar that normally holds it in shape, so it spreads out wider than usual.
Rotated die: The obverse and reverse designs don’t line up correctly. A fairly uncommon error that appeared only in a few cases (for example, 1993 Washington Quarter).
Die crack: Appears as raised lines where the die has cracked.
2016 William Shakespeare £2 Coin Value
We hope that now you’d like to get such a piece for yourself, or perhaps you already own a bit and wish to sell it.
No worries, as we will tell you the £2 coin William Shakespeare 2016 value.
Coin Type | Circulating Mintage | Typical Value (Circulated) |
Tragedies | ~5.6 million | £2 – £4 |
Comedies | ~4.3 million | £2 – £3 |
Histories | ~5.6 million | £2 – £3 |
What can we say? Overall, the coin barely steps over its face value of £2. William Shakespeare Jester £2 coin 2016 worth is on par with its “brothers”, even if it had a smaller mintage.
There are only 2 exceptions: error pieces, which are more valuable, and special kits, common for collective pieces. Most collective kits feature additions like cards or small decorative bags, and therefore, the prices start from £5.
If you are interested in this piece, go browse the 2025 online coin auctions or trade sites! They have Shakespeare and many other interesting pieces.
Factors That Raise Value
Do you have other pieces in your collection, per chance? They could be worth a lot, but you never know unless you read what makes a certain piece desirable.
1. Mintage (How Many Were Made)
The mintage numbers are one of the biggest factors in rarity.
Low mintage usually means higher potential value because fewer pieces exist.
2. Survival Rate / Circulation
Even if a piece had a high mintage, if few survived in good condition, it becomes rare.
Usually, pieces from the Great Depression and wartime fall into this category (most are melted).
3. Condition / Grade
Grading scales, like the Sheldon scale, go from Poor (P-1) to Mint State (MS-70). The higher the number, the higher the value.
Proof pieces (specially struck for collectors) are more valuable than normal circulation coins.
4. Errors & Varieties
Bits with minting errors often become highly collectible.
Misstrikes (off-center, broadstrike) are fairly common and raise value noticeably, but not as much as rare errors like Double Dies or wrong planchets.
Wrong inscriptions or missing elements.
5. Metal Content
Pieces made of precious metals (silver, gold, platinum) have intrinsic value.
Copper bits are worth much less by definition. In the US, copper dimes have always been less desirable than silver ones.
6. Age / Historical Significance
Older pieces can be rare because many were lost or melted down.
Bits tied to historical events (like coronations or wars) are often worth a lot.
7. Popularity / Demand
Commemorative pieces with multiple designs are always in favour. Especially if they represent themes popular among people: sports, books, and events.
Commemorative pieces attract even casuals.
Coin ID Scanner
What is a Coin ID Scanner? It’s a free-to-download app, available for iPhone and Android. The app uses AI and image recognition technologies to identify pennies, pounds, quarters, dollars, and many other denominations. After a quick scan, you get the coin's country of origin, denomination, rarity, composition, and more.
You might wonder, is the identification even accurate? The app has a database of over 150,000 pieces, including ancient, rare, foreign, commemorative, and modern coins. With such a big database, the recognition is accurate, about 98%.
As a bonus, the app offers collection management tools to save images, add notes, organize, and track the total collection value.
If you have coinage-related questions, you can contact a built-in AI assistant to answer coin-related questions and provide numismatic news and tips.
Consider giving this app a try! Collecting and trading will be easier with this technical tool.
FAQ
What Is the Most Valuable British 2 Pound Piece?
The title for the most valuable circulating £2 piece is debated. Enthusiasts agree that the Commonwealth Games £2 series is the most valuable, but which one exactly: the 2002 Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland or the Commonwealth Games Scotland, 1986, is debated. In top condition, both can be worth £50–£100 or more.
Is the 2 Pound Coin William Shakespeare 2016 Value High?
Standard circulation versions of the Shakespeare £2 (Tragedies, Comedies, Histories) are not especially valuable, and typically sell for £2–4 each. The exception is the Tragedies version with the error edge inscription. These bits of coins can reach £30–£120+, depending on condition.
Does the UK Have Their Commemorative Coins?
Yes, and many. The UK regularly issues commemorative pieces, especially in denominations like 50p and £2, celebrating historical events (e.g., World War anniversaries), famous people (e.g., Shakespeare, Darwin, Newton, Paddington Bear on 50ps), and cultural moments (e.g., the London 2012 Olympics series).
Facebook 
X (Twitter) 
Pinterest 
LinkedIn 
