UK Lord of the Rings 50 pence - Royal Mint

The Story of the First Caustic Feature on a UK Coin

At the Council of Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Boromir describes the barren and unforgiving landscape of Mordor, decrying “There is evil there that does not sleep, and the Great Eye is ever watchful.” He refers to the Eye of Sauron, which features in the film franchise only a handful of times, as a gigantic eye wreathed in flame, perched above the formidable stronghold of Barad-dûr.

It’s no surprise, then, that such a menacing yet iconic motif serves as the first caustic feature we have struck on a UK coin.