2022 Two Pound – Alexander Graham Bell

The 2022 Two Pound - Alexander Graham Bell

The Royal Mint celebrates another great inventor and innovator with Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone. 2022 is the centenary of Bell's death.

Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) was born in Scotland but moved to Canada as a young man. As an inventor, he worked with electrical apparatus to help the deaf which eventually led to Bell creating the first telephone (which he called the 'acoustic telegraph') in 1875.

Legend has it that the first call was to his assistant in the room next door with the message "Mr Watson, come here – I want to see you". Bell went on to co-found the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) in 1885.

In recent years there has seen some controversy over the actual filing of the patent for the telephone and many also give the American Elisha Gray the credit of co-inventor of the telephone.

The two-pound coin was released as BU, Silver Proof, Silver Proof Piedfort, and Gold proof. These coins are available (subject to stock) from the Royal Mint Shop. There is also a special gold coin set.

The Reverse was designed by Henry Gray and shows a traditional telephone keypad with the lower keys showing Bell's date of birth and death (1847 and 1922). Legend is "ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL" across. Designer's initials (HDG) below.

Edge is milled with incuse lettering of "INNOVATION IN SCIENCE • BELL".

The Obverse shows a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark.

Image credit: The Royal Mint

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