2023 £2 Piedfort Proof Ada Lovelace Silver Coin Boxed

The 2023 Ada Lovelace £2 silver proof piedfort coin is a beautiful collectible coin that celebrates the achievements of Countess Ada Lovelace, the visionary mathematician and pioneer of computing.

The coin is struck in 925 silver with a proof finish, giving it a beautiful mirror-like surface and a frosted design. The outer rim of the coin is plated in gold for an attractive two-tone effect. As a piedfort coin it is double the usual thickness and contains twice the amount of silver of a regular £2 coin. The reverse design of the coin by Osborne Ross features the original input cards used to programme the Analytical Engine as well as the text 'a discoverer of the hidden realities of nature' and 'ADA LOVELACE COMPUTER VISIONARY 1815 - 1852'. The obverse of the coin features the portrait of King Charles III by Martin Jennings.

Ada Lovelace, born in 1815, is often regarded as the world's first computer programmer. As an English mathematician and writer, she collaborated with Charles Babbage, the inventor of the Analytical Engine, a precursor to modern computers. In her pioneering work, Lovelace wrote extensive notes on the Analytical Engine, highlighting its potential to perform more than mere mathematical calculations. She grasped the concept of software and foresaw computers' capabilities to handle diverse tasks beyond number crunching. Her visionary insights, published in the 1843 notes, secured her legacy as an influential figure in the history of computing.

The coin comes in a presentation case with a booklet recounting Countess Lovelace's life and work. With a limited mintage of only 1,750 pieces, this is a rare opportunity to own a stunning memorial of British computing history.