• The Royal Mint has launched a new £2 coin in collaboration with ZSL to mark the conservation charity's 200th anniversary.
• The coin was unveiled at ZSL London Zoo, with a giant replica coin created especially for the Sumatran tiger enclosure.
• A portion of net proceeds from the coin will be donated to ZSL in support of the charity's global conservation work across more than 70 countries.

14 April 2026: The Royal Mint has today launched a commemorative £2 coin celebrating 200 years of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

The coin was officially launched at ZSL’s London Zoo, where a giant wooden replica of the coin, 2 metres in size, was given to the conservation Zoo’s Sumatran tigers to give their roar of approval.

The coin formed part of the tiger’s daily enrichment – activities which stimulate an animal’s natural instincts, which for the tigers includes stalking and hunting.

Created in collaboration with ZSL, the reverse (tails) design brings together three animals that sit at the heart of some of the organisation’s most significant conservation programmes; the Sumatran tiger, the Socorro dove, and the Partula snail. Each is depicted with exceptional detail from the texture of the tiger's fur, the delicate feathers of the dove, and the distinctive ribbed surface of the snail's unusual conical shell. Bamboo grasses wind between the three creatures, in a special nod to the wild habitats ZSL works to protect and restore. The edge of the coin carries the inscription ‘RESTORING WILDLIFE TOGETHER’.

Lucy Mackenzie, Director of Digital and Product Concept at The Royal Mint, said, "This coin is so much more than a commemorative piece, it's a tribute to two centuries of dedication to wildlife and our planet. We’re proud to support ZSL, and every purchase contributes directly to its vital environmental work."

Lucy adds “Being at ZSL’s London Zoo to officially unveil the coin was a truly special moment. To stand alongside the keepers and conservationists who give so much of themselves to this work every day and to see the animals that inspired the design up close brought home just how meaningful this collaboration is.”

Kathryn England, ZSL CEO said: “We are delighted that ZSL’s 200th anniversary is being commemorated with this special £2 coin from The Royal Mint. The design, which highlights three of ZSL’s remarkable conservation stories, reflects just a small part of the impact ZSL has made over the past two centuries. From pioneering scientific research to protecting and restoring species and habitats around the world, this recognition is a wonderful tribute to our enduring commitment to conservation. Those who purchase the coin will not only get to own a part of our history, but will be supporting our global conservation work, enabling us to continue delivering vital conservation impact for wildlife and people worldwide.”

Founded in 1826 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles "for the advancement of zoological science", ZSL has grown into one of the world's leading conservation organisations, operating across more than 70 countries. The bicentenary coin marks that remarkable journey two centuries of people, wildlife and ecosystems, and a science-driven mission that continues to shape conservation on a global scale.

A portion of the net proceeds from sales will be donated to ZSL in support of the charity's global conservation work across the world. The coin is available from 9am 14 April 2026 with prices starting from £17.50. For more information and to purchase from The Royal Mint, visit www.royalmint.com.

From 1^st May, visitors to the Royal Mint Experience, based in Llantrisant, South Wales will have an opportunity to strike their own ZSL £2 coin.