Halloween special: 2018 FRANKENSTEIN silver £2 coin
Happy Halloween, fellow collectors! Tonight, we’re shining our flashlights on a modern British numismatic masterpiece that is absolutely perfect for the spooky season: the 2018 Royal Mint Frankenstein £2 Silver Proof Coin. Struck to commemorate the bicentenary of Mary Shelley’s 1818 gothic masterpiece, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, this coin holds a legendary status in the collecting community because it was never released into general circulation. You won’t find this monster lurking in your everyday pocket change; it was issued strictly in specialized collector packs and numismatic sets, making it a prized, elusive addition to any serious collector's vault.
For those of us who obsess over the minting specs and rarity, the silver proof version is a true holy grail. It weighs in at 12.00 grams with a 28.40mm diameter and is beautifully struck in .925 sterling silver. The Royal Mint gave it the classic bi-metallic £2 look by selectively plating the outer ring in fine gold, creating a stunning contrast that looks incredible under a loupe. But here is the real treat (and no trick): while the Mint originally declared a maximum mintage cap of 8,000 pieces, the official archive figures reveal that only 3,198 standard silver proofs were actually issued. That incredibly low final mintage makes it a certified sleeper hit. For the hardcore stackers who love a heavy-hitter, they even put out a double-thickness Piedfort silver version—and only 1,379 of those beasts exist worldwide!
What I love most about this coin is how it rejects a cheesy, Hollywood-style monster face in favor of pure, chilling atmosphere. Designed by Thomas T. Docherty, the reverse features the name "Frankenstein" transformed into an innovative ECG monitor pulse, mimicking the jagged, electric heartbeat of the creature coming to life. Turn the coin on its side, and you'll find the ultimate spooky easter egg incised into the milled edge: the haunting novel quote, "A SPARK OF BEING". Flipped over to the obverse, you get Jody Clark’s definitive fifth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Whether you’re a horror fan or a die-hard numismatist, this electrifying piece of silver history is the ultimate coin to hunt for this Halloween.