H. G. Wells was a novelist, journalist, sociologist and historian best known for his science fiction novels such as The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds. From humble beginnings, he endured financial hardship and illness as a child, finding solace in reading and learning. Drawn into the world of science, he went on to both amaze and unsettle the world with his uncannily accurate predictions of how the world might look in the future.

His ability to make science fiction believable brought his work and the genre to a whole new audience, earning him nicknames such as the ‘father of science fiction’. Nominated four times for the Nobel Prize in Literature, his influence extends far beyond the literary world and into modern society, where he has even had an impact crater on Mars named after him.

Seventy-five years on from his death, we’re celebrating the imagination and enquiring mind of a man who helped shaped the world we live in. Chris Costello’s reverse design focuses on iconic images from Wells’ work, including The War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man.

"The Father of Science Fiction”

The writings of H.G. Wells are being interpreted and adapted for the enjoyment of modern audiences in ever more imaginative ways. Known as 'The Father of Science Fiction', he helped originate the genre and inspired generations of new authors to create even more fantastic stories. His life and work inspired me to create a design that will help reflect his vision and spur more innovation from the science fiction creators of the future. This design unifies elements of multiple stories into one symbolic graphic that is emblematic of H.G. Well’s best known works.

I was very excited to win this completion as it is my second coin design sculpted and produced by the Royal Mint. As an American, I am honored to be included among The Royal Mint’s winning designers and am very happy that my H.G. Wells design will document the legacy of this extraordinary visionary for many years to come."