First Floating Commemoration

World’s first floating commemoration to mark the 500th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the Mary Rose revealed by Royal Mint early this month. A replica of the Mary Rose £2 coin was put on the ship resting place in the Solent. The ship was launched in 1511 and sank in 1545 during an engagement with French fleet. The three meter replica coin is a reproduction of the £2 Mary Rose coin released by the Royal Mint earlier this year.

Shane Bissett, the Royal Mint’s Director of Commemorative Coin commented "We produced the Mary Rose coin as a tribute to the world’s only surviving Tudor warship – and hope it serves as a reminder of Britain’s rich heritage as a maritime nation. In our 1,000-year history, we have never ‘floated’ a coin before, but there seemed no better way to celebrate the 500th anniversary of such an iconic vessel. Collaborating with the Mary Rose Trust and the Royal Navy Fleet Diving Squadron to execute the idea at sea was an honor, as we remember our naval past and look to its future."

John Lippiett, Chief Executive of the Mary Rose Trust said "We are delighted to continue our relationship with the Royal Mint following production of the Mary Rose £2 coin. We have much work to do to secure the future of the ship and we are grateful to everyone who supports our fundraising drive to help us build the new Mary Rose Museum here in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Building work is underway and we plan to open it before the end of 2012. Our hope is that people will send a Mary Rose £2 coin back to us here in Portsmouth to help us achieve our target."

Lieutenant Commander Richard Watson, Chief of Staff at the Royal Navy Fleet Diving Squadron added "Not only does the Mary Rose play an important part in Britain’s military history, but the story of this Tudor warship appeals to naval personnel and civilians alike. We were able to combine some of our training with this task and are proud to help the Royal Mint commemorate the Mary Rose and hope that the new £2 coin helps keep her memory alive."

The Mary Rose £2 gold proof coin will find its way into our change this year. Only 1,511 22 carat gold commemorative coin have been struck, reflecting the year of the Mary Rose’s maiden voyage. The coins have also been struck in sterling silver and pristine, uncirculated versions are available to buy in limited numbers.

Mary Rose £2 Gold Proof Coin

The reverse features an intricately detailed depiction of the Mary Rose that was inspired by the only known contemporary painting of her. It was created by John Bergdahl FRBS who explains: ‘After a trip to the museum currently the home to the Mary Rose, I was immediately inspired by the only acknowledged painting of this iconic vessel – an image that I used as the basis for my design.’

Technical Specification:

Denomination: M

Alloy: 22 Carat Gold

Weight: 15.976 g

Diameter: 28.40 mm

Minted: 1,511 pcs

Source: Royal Mint