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The 2016 Shakespeare Tragedies £2 coin was released by The Royal Mint to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, paying tribute to the playwright’s most dramatic and intense works.
This coin honours the tragedies, such as Macbeth, Hamlet, and Othello, and features a haunting design by John Bergdahl. The reverse shows a skull and rose, symbols of death and love — central themes in Shakespeare’s tragic plays. The edge inscription reads: “What a piece of work is a man”, a quote from Hamlet.
Issued alongside the Comedies and Histories £2 coins, this piece is highly collectable and particularly popular with fans of darker literary themes.
With a circulated mintage of 4,615,000, it’s widely available but always in demand due to its striking design.
✔ Official UK £2 coin issued in 2016
✔ Commemorates Shakespeare’s tragic plays
✔ Features skull and rose design
✔ “What a piece of work is a man” edge inscription
✔ Designed by John Bergdahl
✔ Circulated condition
✔ Mintage: 4,615,000
✔ Ideal for fans of literature, drama, and UK coinage
A beautifully gothic tribute to Shakespeare’s most powerful tragedies.
2016 Shakespeare Tragedies £2 Coin
£2.99