THE Royal Mint has unveiled a £2 coin to commemorate the Act of Union - 300 years to the day after it was ratified by the Scottish Parliament.
The launch took place today at Dover House, the official London residence of the Secretary of State for Scotland.
The coin will come into general circulation in the summer but until then limited editions are being produced especially for collectors.
A commemorative £2 coin in gold is being sold for £395 with a limited issue of just 750. However, 10,000 silver coins - each costing £29.95 - are being produced along with 100,000 coins at £7.45 each.
Artist Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of the Queen is on one side of the coin with the reverse displaying a Scottish thistle, an English Rose and a portcullis representing Parliament linked together like a jigsaw.
The coin was designed by Yvonne Holton, principal artist in the Court of the Lord Lyon, which is the chief heraldic authority in Scotland.
Yvonne has also worked as a book illustrator.
The inauguration of the Union took place on May 1 1707, bringing together the nations of Scotland and England under one Parliament.
Andy Mitchell at the Royal Mint said: "We are delighted to be producing a coin which marks such a significant date in both Scottish and English history."
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