Featuring the quote "In the beginning was the Word", from John 1.1, the new design demonstrates the original technology behind the printing press with the tactile text appearing both reversed to represent the printing block, and recessed to represent the printed text.

The limited edition coin, which was designed by London-based DesignStudio, is available now from the Royal Mint in a base metal collector version. Additional collector versions will be struck in silver and gold next year, with general circulation of the coin taking place later in 2011.

The original printing of the authorised version of the King James bible was published by Robert Barker, the King’s Printer, in 1611.