London (AP) — The Royal Mint is set to release a commemorative coin honoring the renowned author George Orwell and marking the 75th anniversary of his passing. The coin, valued at 2 pounds ($2.40), features an image reminiscent of an eye, which upon closer inspection reveals itself to be a camera lens. Inscribed on the coin’s edge is a quote from Orwell’s iconic novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four”: “There was truth and there was untruth.”
Renowned coinage artist Henry Gray, the creative mind behind this design, emphasized the theme of totalitarianism at the core of his work. Reflecting on the pervasive surveillance prevalent in modern society, Gray explained, “With phones and cameras being everywhere in your house, and being listened to by advertisers on your phone, you are really aware of how you’re being surveyed — and that’s what ‘1984’ is all about.”
The design choice of an eye, devoid of traditional features like eyelashes, was intentional. Gray elaborated, “That’s why the eye in the design isn’t a realistic eye. It doesn’t have eyelashes and things like that because I wanted it to be monocular. It’s almost like a camera lens staring at you all the time, unblinking.”
Orwell’s dystopian novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four” envisions a future society dominated by a totalitarian regime led by the enigmatic figure of Big Brother. The story follows the protagonist, Winston Smith, in his clandestine defiance against the oppressive government.
George Orwell, renowned for his literary works including “Animal Farm,” passed away at the age of 46 in a London hospital on January 21, 1950, just a few months after the publication of “Nineteen Eighty-Four.” His profound insights into the nature of power, control, and surveillance continue to resonate with readers worldwide.
The limited edition collector’s coin is slated for release on Wednesday, priced at 17.50 pounds each. This numismatic tribute joins a prestigious lineage of 2-pound coins celebrating literary luminaries such as William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and J.R.R. Tolkien.
The unveiling of this commemorative coin serves as a poignant reminder of Orwell’s enduring legacy and his poignant exploration of authoritarianism, truth, and resistance in the face of oppressive regimes.
