Issued to mark the 50th anniversary of Tolkien's death in September 1973, this coin continues a Royal Mint commemorative strand that began with a 2019 Tolkien £2 — itself controversial among collectors for omitting any direct Tolkien quote or imagery from The Lord of the Rings due to ongoing estate licensing complexities. The Tolkien Estate has historically been selective, and at times difficult, regarding commercial use of the author's work.
Issued to mark the 50th anniversary of Tolkien's death in September 1973, this coin continues a Royal Mint commemorative strand that began with a 2019 Tolkien £2 — itself controversial among collectors for omitting any direct Tolkien quote or imagery from The Lord of the Rings due to ongoing estate licensing complexities. The Tolkien Estate has historically been selective, and at times difficult, regarding commercial use of the author's work.