George Orwell, the iconic author of Animal Farm and 1984, will be celebrated with a striking new £2 coin design.
Created to mark the 75th anniversary of Orwell’s passing, the coin’s reverse side pays tribute to 1984, his chilling dystopian masterpiece about Winston Smith, a man navigating a society dominated by totalitarian rule and relentless surveillance.
At the heart of the design, artist Henry Grey has crafted a clever visual, a camera lens disguised as an eye, perfectly capturing the novel’s themes of constant observation and control.
The quote “Big Brother is watching you” encircles the camera lens, while the coin’s edge inscription bears another quote: “There was truth and there was untruth.”
The coin will feature the famous quote “Big Brother is watching you”
(Image: Royal Mint/PA Wire)
The Royal Mint said that other authors who have been honoured with £2 coins include JRR Tolkien, Jane Austen, and William Shakespeare.
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you’re on mobile, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!
If you’re on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click ‘Join Community’.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint said: “The works of George Orwell have influenced generations, and his most famous works are still being studied today – decades on from their first publication.
“I am delighted to share this unique design with collectors and fans of Orwell’s work, paying tribute to one of the most world-renowned authors of the 20th century.”
Author, journalist, and visionary thinker Eric Blair, better known by his pen name, George Orwell, used his work to expose social injustices and challenge the status quo.
Terms like “Orwellian” have become shorthand for oppressive regimes that distort truth and suppress freedoms
(Image: Getty Images)
Orwell’s influence resonates far beyond his time, with his ideas woven into everyday language.
Terms like “Orwellian” have become shorthand for oppressive regimes that distort truth and suppress freedoms, while “Big Brother” is now synonymous with surveillance and loss of privacy.
Available from 9 am on January 15 via the Royal Mint website, the coin will come in uncirculated, gold proof, and silver proof editions, starting at £17.50.
Visitors to the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant, South Wales, can strike their own George Orwell £2 coin starting January 20.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter.