1995 UN Commemorative Gold Two Pounds
Issued 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 Coin
The 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 Nations
The 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
- to maintain international peace and security.
- to develop friendly relations among nations.
- to co-operate in solving international, economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.
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 Headquarters
A 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 Today
Today 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.
- The General Assembly
Often called "the parliament of mankind", the General Assembly is the main deliberative body of the UN. All Member States are represented and each has one vote. - The Security Council
Is charged with maintaining peace and security. there are fifteen members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and United States occupy permanent seats, while the remaining ten members are elected by the General Assembly. - The Economic and Social Council
Seeks better standards of life for all peoples, overseeing the specialised agencies in economic, social, cultural, educational and health matters. - The Trusteeship Council
Has promoted the advancement of the Trust Territories and their progress and development towards self government. All have now achieved their independence. - The International Court of Justice
Is the principal judiciary arm of the UN and operates at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Holland. - The Secretariat
Is the "civil service" of the UN. At its head is the Secretary General, who may bring to the Security Council any matter which in his opinion threatens international peace and security.
Obverse
The 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 Design
The 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.
Edge
The edge is milled, with no inscription.Technical Specifications
| Diameter, Millimetres | 28.40 |
| Weight, Grams | 15.98 |
|---|---|
| Alloy (Carats) | 22 |
| Fineness (Millesimal) | 916.6 |
| Actual Gold Content (Grams) | 14.63 |
| Actual Gold Content (Troy Ounces) | 0.4707 |
| Mintage | 17,500 |
Prices & Availability
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USA Airmail $10,
Insured Shipping $20
Canada Airmail $15,
Insured Shipping via Fedex $60
Base Metal Issue Mintage
Hardly 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 As mentioned above, we see many of these and other two pounds on eBay described as gold, or not described, but using our photographs of gold proof coins, presumably with the dishonest intention of misleading potential buyers into thinking they can buy a real gold coin cheap. eBay buyers should exercise caution. If something sounds too good to be true, then it probably isn't.
Obverse of 1995 UN £2 Gold Proof
Two Pounds IndexOther Gold Two Pounds for Sale
Flags of the Nations on Reverse of 1995 UN £2 Gold Proof
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32 - 36 Harrowside, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 1RJ, England. Telephone (44) - (0) 1253 - 343081; Fax 408058;
E-mail: Contact Us The URL for our main page is: taxfreegold.co.uk