A special £2 coin has been commissioned by the Royal Mint to mark the 500th anniversary of the launch of the Mary Rose.

The limited edition coin, which depicts King Henry VIII’s flagship in a design created by artist John Bergdahl, will go into circulation this year.

Mr Bergdahl said: “After a trip to the museum currently home to the Mary Rose, I was immediately inspired by the only acknowledged painting of this iconic vessel – an image that I used as the basis for my design.”

Kevin Clancy, head of historical services at the Royal Mint, said: “We were especially impressed with the way the designer captured the stature and presence of this great Tudor ship on the coin.”

The coin’s release comes as work begins on a new museum to house the Mary Rose and 19,000 of its artefacts at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth.

The coin was launched at the existing museum and shown off among Tudor coins raised from the ship which sank in the Solent off Portsmouth Harbour.

Rear Admiral John Lippiett, chief executive officer of the Mary Rose Trust, said: “This elegant new coin is a fitting tribute to the world’s only surviving Tudor warship and the finest collection of Tudor artefacts recovered with her.

“If everyone who found one of these Mary Rose £2 in their pocket were to donate the same amount to us at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard where she was built, then we would complete our outstanding appeal of £3 million for the new £35 million Mary Rose Museum.

“Without this money, the future of this national icon is not yet secured.”