2011 Gold 2 Pound Coin - Mary Rose

The Mary Rose is a carrack-type warship of the English Tudor navy of King Henry VIII and was launched in July 1511. After serving for 33 years in several wars, she saw her last action on 19 July 1545 while leading the attack on the galleys of a French invasion fleet she sank in the Solent, just north of the Isle of Wight.

The wreck of the Mary Rose was rediscovered in 1971 and was famously raised in 1982 by the Mary Rose Trust, in one of the most complex and expensive projects in the history of maritime archaeology. The remains are on display at Portsmouth.

This coin celebrates the 500th anniversary of the launch of the Mary Rose and her maiden voyage.

The two pounds piece is made of solid 22 carat gold (Gold Fineness of 0.916), and weighs 15.98 grams. It has a diameter of 28.40mm.

The reverse, designed by John Bergdahl, shows the Mary Rose sailing right, based upon a 1546 pictorial survey of Henry VIII's navy. Inscription "THE MARY ROSE" above, "TWO POUNDS" below.

The edge is milled and carries the inscription "YOUR NOBLEST SHIPPE 1511".

The obverse is the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

The coin was housed originally in its Royal Mint acrylic screw top capsule, presented in its Royal Mint wooden case, accompanied with an individually numbered certificate of authenticity.