A new £2 has been released commemorating the life and works of George Orwell.(Image: The Royal Mint)

Who is George Orwell? Brand new £2 coin released honouring 1984 author

by · NottinghamshireLive

A new £2 coin honouring the life and works of author George Orwell has been unveiled by the Royal Mint. Commemorating the 75th anniversary of Orwell's death, the tails side of the coin will read "Big brother is watching you", quoting the author's dystopian novel 1984.

Coin artist Henry Gray has designed an illustration of what appears to be an eye, but what is in fact a camera lens, for the quote to encircle. The coin’s edge inscription reads ‘There was truth and there was untruth’, another quote from the novel.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said: "I am delighted to share this unique design with collectors and fans of Orwell’s work, paying tribute to one of the most world-renowned authors of the 20th century.”

The George Orwell commemorative £2 coin will be available to purchase in Brilliant Uncirculated, Gold Proof and Silver Proof editions from The Royal Mint website at 9am on 15th January.

This follows a long tradition of literary figures who have taken up a spot on the £2 coin. Since its introduction to the definitive coinage of the United Kingdom in 1998, the £2 coin has seen over 50 reverse designs, including William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and JRR Tolkien.

Who is George Orwell?

George Orwell was a visionary author most known for his anti-totalitarianism texts 1984 and Animal Farm. His works reflected his real-life experiences including living in poverty, and serving as a Republican volunteer during Francisco Franco’s dictatorship in Spain.

Orwell is a staple in English classrooms and lecture theatres across the UK, with his works sparking discourse truth, freedom and democratic socialism. Alongside novels, Orwell also wrote poems and essays exploring themes of warring states and anti-imperialism.

His long-lasting impact on British culture is prevalent through his quotable works and witticisms. ITV's Big Brother gets its name from Orwell's 1984, renowned for its exploration of a surveillance state.