George Orwell £2 coin released by the Royal Mint to mark 75 years since the author's death

A new £2 coin has been released by the Royal Mint to mark 75 years since the death of George Orwell.

The reverse or tails design of the coin pays tribute to 1984, Orwell's dystopian novel centred around the character of Winston Smith, who lives in a society restricted by totalitarian rule and mass surveillance.

Coin artist Henry Gray created what appears to be an eye but is a camera lens at the centre of the design with the quote "Big Brother is watching you" encircles the camera lens, while the coin’s edge inscription bears another quote: “There was truth and there was untruth.”

The Royal Mint has previously included William Shakespeare, Jane Austen and JRR Tolkien on its £2 coins.

Orwell, who was born in India in 1903 and died in London in 1950, is best known for his novels 1984 and Animal Farm.

His works are still being studied today - decades on from their first publication.

The new coin will be available to buy in brilliant uncirculated, gold proof and silver proof versions from the Royal Mint's website at 9am on Wednesday, January 15 with prices starting at £17.50.

From January 20, visitors to the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant, South Wales will also be able to strike their own George Orwell £2 collectable coin.

Orwell, whose real name was Eric Blair, highlighted social injustices through his work.

His lasting influence and impact on society can be heard in language used today with the term “Orwellian” often used to describe destructive regimes where the truth is being distorted and personal freedoms are being eroded.

Meanwhile, the term "Big Brother" is also commonly used to describe situations where people lack privacy or where they are being severely controlled.