1995 UN Commemorative Gold Two PoundsIssued to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations in 1945. This page shows the gold proof version of the UK nickel-brass issue.United Nations 50th Anniversary 1995 Two Pounds CoinThe Royal Mint produced two different, but complementary two pound coins in 1995. One was issued to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations in 1945.The United NationsThe United Nations was established in the aftermath of a devastating war, created to maintain world peace and security and to work for social progress. It finds its roots in the Atlantic Charter which , after a series of meetings in warships off the coast of Newfoundland, was drawn up in 1941 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. In search of peace, the Charter called for "the fullest collaboration between all nations".In June 1945 some fifty nations meeting in San Francisco approved the United Nations Charter and on 24th October, now officially celebrated as United Nations Day, the Charter was ratified and brought into effect. Fifty years later, in 1995, the United Nations celebrates a history of remarkable achievement and the beginning of an era of new challenges requiring the co-operation of each and every nation. "Raising the banner of hope wherever there is need, conflict and tension in the world". Since its inception the United Nations has sought to resolve potential conflicts peacefully, to alleviate poverty, hunger and the ravages of disease, and to ensure that every man, woman and child in the world enjoys basic human rights and the protection of the law. With 185 members it encompasses almost all humanity and strives
The 50th Anniversary provides an opportunity to reaffirm the principles of the UN Charter and to chart the course of the world into the next century. In the words of Boutros Boutros-Gali: "The Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations is a time to project into the future our vision of a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world... to spread the spirit of co-operation among the peoples of the world, to celebrate and to share a vision of the great potential of this unique Organisation". The United Nations HeadquartersA key decision of the first General Assembly was to place the United Nations' permanent Headquarters in the United States. In December 1946 the American financier and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. offered a gift of $8.5 million to purchase the East River site in New York City. The City donated the adjacent land and waterfront rights along the East River, and today the sixteen-acre tract of international territory on Manhattan Island is the nerve centre for the worldwide activity of the United Nations. It is peopled by men and women from every corner of the globe and, arranged in alphabetical order, the flags of the 185 member countries fly before the General Assembly building.The United Nations TodayToday the United Nations represents almost all humanity and its family of specialised agencies are at work worldwide, touching every aspect of peoples lives in areas as diverse as child survival and development, environmental protection, human rights, health and medical research, alleviation of poverty, education, emergency and disaster relief.The agencies work under the jurisdiction of the United Nations' six main organs. All, apart from the International Court of Justice, are based at the UN Headquarters in New York.
ObverseThe Third PortraitThe obverse (head side) is the third major portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Ralph David Maklouf, FRSA. It came into use in 1985 and continued until 1997 inclusive, a total of thirteen years. Reverse DesignThe special reverse design of the United Nations commemorative £2 coin shows flags of nations accompanying the 50th anniversary symbol. It has been created by the sculptor Michael Rizzello, who saw military service during and after the Second World War and therefore has personal experience of a world at war.After demobilisation, Michael Rizzello studied at the Royal College of Art, winning the RCA Major Travelling Scholarship, and also in France and Italy, having been awarded the Prix de Rome for Sculpture. Now a distinguished Past President of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, his association with the Royal Mint stretches back over more than thirty years, during which time he has designed coins and medals for a remarkable number of countries. Of his design for the historic United Nations 50th Anniversary coin, he says: "The flags clustered around the 50th Anniversary emblem are purely symbolic and I deliberately avoided any reference to numbers, individual member states or their perceived importance, simply, nations uniting around and into the United Nations". Born in England of Italian parents, Michael Rizzello is truly an international sculptor. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1977 in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Honours List. EdgeThe edge is milled, with no inscription.Technical Specifications
Prices & Availability
You may wish to use our order form. Postage & PackingUK Registered Post (Special Delivery) £9 per orderEU Insured Post £10 per order USA Airmail $10, Insured Shipping $20 Canada Airmail $15, Insured Shipping via Fedex $60 Base Metal Issue MintageHardly a week goes by without someone offering to sell us one or more of the base metal version of this coin thinking they have got a gold version. These were struck in nickel-brass, and are therefore a yellow colour. Only a hopelessly over-optimistic person or idiot could confuse these two different metals. We also see base metal versions offered on eBay as gold, but then over half the stuff offered on eBay seems to be stolen, fake, or dubious in some other aspect.The mintage of 1995 base metal two pounds was 6,033,000 for the combination of WWII and UN issues, about half each.
Fools Gold Two Pound Coins on eBay
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Obverse of 1995 UN £2 Gold ProofTwo Pounds IndexOther Gold Two Pounds for Sale
Flags of the Nations on Reverse of 1995 UN £2 Gold ProofTwo Pounds Information |
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