As an accomplished scholar and philologist, the maker of Middle-earth  and the father of modern fantasy fiction, JRR Tolkien is best known for creating the immensely popular fantasy novels The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954–55).

In honour of Tolkien’s intellect and imagination, this UK £2 coin features a reverse design created by artist David Lawrence, which features Tolkien’s unique monogram encircled by a skilfully designed runic band. ‘NOT ALL THOSE WHO WANDER ARE LOST’, a quote taken from the poem ‘The Riddle of Strider’, which appears in Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, serves as the coin’s edge inscription.