Won this nice little gem off of Ebay a week ago along with an uncirculated 1996 set. This was the trial £2 coin Royal Mint set from 1994 which has a picture of a ship on it (there is no mention as to what the ship is). Interestingly for this set it includes the blanks throughout their processing stage, see images below:






Apologies for the blurred quality of some of the images, due to the way it's packaged it's hard to scan them. Interesting footnote on part of the presentation folder it states that the design won't be used for the 1997 release, I wonder if they have done temporary designs for other coins in the past before?

Nice set....

Thanks, forgot to point out the two blank pieces of the bi-metallic coin just before the final stage are loose and not yet "joined" together

Nice set Johnny. Tha ship is probably the The Golden Hind (captained by Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the world between 1577 and 1580) It can also be found on the reverse of the George VI halfpenny's.

You may be correct, the Royal Mint just refers to it as "...the ship design" in the folder for some reason

Thanks Johnny that is very interesting, Can I ask what it sold for?

Apologies for not replying to this sooner as I had drifted off of collecting coins not long after starting this thread (however with the new UK designs coming up next year I've suddenly gained interest again)

Anyway looking back though my eBay history I got this set along with the 1996 set for £36.29, not bad considering by itself it could sell for £25-£30

^^^ Do you have any info on the new designs that are coming next year?

As of yet no, I am constantly checking every couple of days. In the meantimethis link has some info of the old designs for those who don't want to follow the link

From the royal mitn website:

Announcing the Biggest Design Change in British Coinage Since Decimalisation
For the first time since decimalisation, the legal tender coins of the United Kingdom will undergo a major design change. In the late spring of 2008 the nation will see new designs on its coinage, from the 1p to £1, reflecting a more modern twenty-first century Britain.
Last of the Old designs
To mark this major numismatic milestone and commemorate the reverse designs that have served Britain for many years, the Royal Mint is producing three magnificent limited-edition coin collections.


Apparently Spring 2008 is when you will be able to purchase the new design coin set, the designs will (hopefully) be unvield in November rather than in five-six months time

As soon as they release the images I will let you all know