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2 Pounds - Charles III JRR Tolkien, Gold Proof
| Issuer | Royal Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 2023 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Central field displays Tolkien's distinctive personal monogram — the interlaced T and R device rendered in bold relief — set within a finely engraved geometric Celtic-style border of interlocking triangular and diamond motifs, evoking the decorative aesthetic of Middle-earth. Two small quatrefoil ornaments appear above and below the monogram within the inner circle. The contrasting outer ring bears the legend 1892 JRR TOLKIEN 1973 across the upper arc, flanking the birth and death years of the author, with WRITER · POET · SCHOLAR disposed across the lower arc, separated by raised dots; the engraver's initials DL appear at lower right of the outer ring. |
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| Additional information |
The Royal Mint has issued commemorative Tolkien pieces since 2021, timed loosely around the centenary of early publications in the legendarium, though the timing has never mapped precisely onto a single clean anniversary. This 2023 gold proof continues that series under Charles III's effigy following the September 2022 accession — making it one of the earliest collector issues to bear his portrait in that denomination.
Tolkien spent much of his academic career at Oxford's Merton College as Merton Professor of English Language and Literature, a position he held until 1959. He reportedly disliked most commercial adaptations of his work during his lifetime.