New 'Big Brother' Coin Celebrates George Orwell

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By M@

Last Updated 13 January 2025

New 'Big Brother' Coin Celebrates George Orwell
George Orwell and a new two pound coin celebrating his novel 1984

A new £2 coin celebrates the life and works of George Orwell.

"Big Brother is watching you." Our slide into dystopia continues apace, with news that these famous words will now be printed on a coin of the realm. From 20 January, a new £2 coin will feature King Charles III on the obverse and a menacing, all-seeing eye on the reverse.

This unsettling minting is, of course, a celebration of George Orwell and his most famous novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. The 'eye' is really a surveillance camera, and the coin also bears the legend "THERE WAS TRUTH AND THERE WAS UNTRUTH" around the edge.

George Orwell and a new two pound coin celebrating his novel 1984

It's a bold move by the Royal Mint to introduce ideas of trust, truth and autocracy into the national currency. Indeed, we questioned the truth of the press release, which attributes the design to "experienced coin artist Henry Gray" — whose job description is but a vowel shift away from something more sinister.

The story checks out, though. Orwellian £2 coins really have been minted. Only, these are collectables and won't be entering general circulation. All coins are fungible, but some are more fungible than others.

The new coin marks 75 years since the death of Orwell, and follows recent releases that depict David Bowie, Team GB, JRR Tolkien, Paddington Bear and Winnie the Pooh. Get yours from the Royal Mint site from 9am on 15 January 2025 (delivered from 20 January). Your choice to display it so that the all-seeing eye of the King is on you, or otherwise, that of Big Brother.