The design depicts St Paul's Cathedral illuminated by searchlights and the value 'TWO POUNDS' above and the dates 1945-2005 below.

The Second World War brought devastation to British cities, but while London burned St Paul’s miraculously escaped destruction, its Dome according to The Times seeming to ‘ride the sea of fire like a great ship’. Serene and comparatively unscathed amid a city in flames, the great cathedral survived to become a symbol of hope to a beleaguered nation. And it was this image of St Paul’s cathedral during the blitz that had such an impact on Robert Elderton as he undertook his research for a suitable reverse for the new two-pound coin celebrating the coming of peace in 1945: ‘Its survival during the fire bombing of London seemed such an iconic image. The coin more or less designed itself when I came across the image of St Paul’s lit up with the search beams in the shape of a V for Victory. A lot of credit should go to Sir Christopher Wren and the searchlight operators!’. Robert Elderton may jest but he has ensured that the spectacular architecture of St Paul’s Cathedral has been faithfully reproduced to make a beautifully composed and very fitting image for this celebratory coin.