The Royal Mint marks 150 years of football’s legendary FA Cup with a new coin range in silver and gold

Without question, one of the premier football tournaments in the world, and the oldest, the FA Cup is celebrating one and a half centuries since its inception. From humble beginnings in the Victorian era, it’s grown into a behemoth, encompassing hundreds of teams across many different leagues – in the 2011/12 season, a phenomenal 763 teams competed. This has led to the fairy tale stories of ‘giant-killers’ where teams full of part-time players have beaten high-end opposition, although winning the whole competition is another matter entirely.

The trophy itself is an icon, recognisable around the world. The current design is the second, having been introduced in 1911, and the cup used today is the third iteration of it, made in 2014. Winners of the final, usually held in the rebuilt Wembley Stadium in London, qualify for the UEFA Europa League, and get to take on the winners of the Premier League to take home the FA Community Shield. The next final is in May 2022, and in a nice touch, the coin with certificate #1, will be used for the coin toss at Wembley.

The new coin is a fitting, if unimaginative, homage to this long-standing love of the football community. It depicts the trophy on a clean background field, complete with ribbons holding the date of the competition’s inception, and the date of the anniversary. It’s a crisp rendition, with some good detail, but lacks the passion the competition is known for. Artists, Matt Dent and Christian Davies, have made a fine looking coin, regardless.

As one of the Royal Mint’s £2 coins, it has that bimetallic look. The silver pair, one of 12 grams, and the other a double-thickness piedfort coin, have a gilded outer ring, while the half-ounce gold is formed in a mix of red and yellow golds. We’re not usually a fan of the look, as it often infringes on the artist’s vision, but no such qualms this time, with the design remaining refreshingly untainted for the most part. The inscription, FOOTBALL’S GREATEST CUP COMPETITION, is engraved on the coin edge. All variants are nicely boxed, and with some surprisingly small mintages given the sheer popularity of the subject. A base-metal coin is available for just £10, with the others coming in at £72.50, £117.50, and £1’125.00 respectively. Available later today.

PRESS RELEASE

The Royal Mint has launched a commemorative £2 coin celebrating 150 Years of the FA Cup, in partnership with The Football Association (The FA) during their landmark anniversary season. The collectable £2 coin features the iconic FA Cup trophy at the heart of the design and will take centre stage for the coin toss at the Emirates FA Cup Final at Wembley on 14 May – the showpiece event of the most historic domestic football cup competition in the world.

Designed by artists Matt Dent and Christian Davies, the coveted silverware appears in miniature on the £2 coin, combining The Royal Mint’s craftsmanship and innovation to achieve the accurate detail. The design is etched with celebratory ribbon alongside the words ‘celebrating 150 years of The FA Cup’. On the highly secure milled edge of £2 coin is the inscription ‘football’s greatest cup competition’, a further nod to the landmark celebration of football’s longest-running knockout competition. A silver version, with a certificate of authenticity baring the number 1, will be minted to the highest Proof standard for the coin toss in May.

The Royal Mint’s Director of Commemorative Coin Clare Maclennan said: “The Emirates FA Cup is an iconic footballing competition that has enabled clubs across the country to dream of lifting the coveted trophy for 150 years. In what is an extra special season for everyone involved in the game, we are thrilled to be working with The FA and celebrating the 150th anniversary of the much-loved competition with a commemorative £2 coin. Designed with the trophy at its heart, it is fitting that the coin will be used for the coin toss during the Final at Wembley in May.”

The FA’s Head of Player Status and Competitions, David Newton, said: “The parallels between The Royal Mint’s traditional craftsmanship and innovations, and the Emirates FA Cup’s rich history and evolution over the years mean that this special coin is an incredibly fitting celebration of the competition’s 150th anniversary season. We are delighted that it will be used for the Final’s coin toss, and fans across the country now have the chance to take home their very own piece of silverware to savour for years to come.”