To celebrate the successful London 2012 bid and commemorate the Handover Ceremony of the Olympic Flag from Beijing to London on the 24 August 2008, the Royal Mint has struck a commemorative legal tender £2 coin available in 22 carat gold, sterling silver and base alloys.

The Design

The legal tender £2 coin features on its reverse the Olympic Flag and the London 2012 logo. This design has been created by the Royal Mint Engraving Team and has been authorised by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Surrounding the central design are the words ‘BEIJING 2008′ and ‘LONDON 2012′ along its outer ring, set against a backdrop of lines reminiscent of an athletics track.

The edge of the Handover Ceremony £2 coin features the inscription I CALL UPON THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD.

The 2008 United Kingdom Handover Ceremony £2 Brilliant Uncirculated Presentation Pack

This specially designed presentation pack is a delightful and affordable way of commemorating the outstanding success of the London 2012 bid and the official Handover Ceremony. (more…)

2008 brings a magnificent new reverse design for the Britannia coins, the seventh since this British coin was introduced in 1987. The designer, John Bergdahl, has created a standing portrait of Britannia, incorporating the motifs of the lighthouse, the trident, the shield and the helmet that have long been associated with the numismatic image of Britannia. The obverse bears the portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.

Produced in 22 carat gold, the Britannia gold coin, with a denomination of £25 and containing a quarter of an ounce of pure gold, is housed in a beautiful walnut-veneer presentation case accompanied by an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity attesting to the low worldwide issue limit of just 1,000.

Struck from Britannia .958 silver, the 2008 United Kingdom Britannia One Ounce Silver Proof Coin is the largest United Kingdom silver coin, truly a heavyweight for serious collectors the world over.

Background & History

Britannia has symbolised Britain and her proud island heritage since the time of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (117-138AD). She first appeared on British currency in 1672 on the copper coins of Charles II. Used as a political symbol of the war with the Dutch, her olive branch represented a desire for peace above conflict.

Britannia has graced the coins of every British monarch since Charles II reflecting, in various poses, the changing status of the island nation as well as her ancient origins. Usually but not always depicted seated, Britannia gazes steadfastly towards a future in which she may be challenged but not overcome. (more…)

The Royal Mint has just released a four-coin collection set comprised of silver Piedfort specimens of the three new commemorative coins for 2008 - the two magnificent £5 pieces, one honouring the 450th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth I and the other celebrating the 60th birthday of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and the bi-colour £2 coin marking the centenary of the Olympic Games held in London in 1908 - along with the £1 coin bearing a fresh rendition of the Royal Arms.

The four coins have been struck in the traditional sterling silver alloy to Proof quality and the £2 coin, to emulate the bi-colour nature of its circulating counterpart, has been plated with .999 fine gold on its outer ring. A maximum of 3,000 Silver Proof Piedfort Collections have been authorised for 2008. Each collection is beautifully displayed in a luxurious black display case and is accompanied by a full-colour booklet which incorporates an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Although not Piedforts in a strict sense, thicker than normal coins were produced across Europe during the early modern period, particularly from the mid-sixteenth century to the mid-seventeenth century, as part of the broader practice of striking prestige pieces. At this time the exchange of valuable gifts between rulers and members of their entourage became an established courtly exercise. Within this context coins struck on thick blanks, together with other types of prestige pieces, were prepared on behalf of kings and noblemen primarily for the purposes of presentation and display. From Poland to the Spanish Netherlands, from Sweden to northern Italy, coins of this sort provided rulers with a convenient means of emphasising their wealth and power. (more…)

The Biggest Coin Event in British History Since Decimalisation

The coinage of the United Kingdom is changing. Familiar designs that have served us well for almost 40 years will be replaced by a new set of designs, contemporary in treatment yet grounded in the traditions of the coinage. Now, in a new age, the time has come to rejuvenate the coinage by seeking designs that treat traditional symbols in an innovative and modern way. The series that has been chosen brings new life to the coinage and, like the decimal designs 40 years ago, draws inspiration from the very fabric of British history.

The reverse side of the £1 coin will also show the complete Shield of the Royal Arms, with the front of the coins continuing to bear the existing portrait of Her Majesty The Queen. The £2 coin will remain unchanged.

The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Angela Eagle MP said: “The response to the public competition for new coin designs was overwhelming, and my congratulations go to Matthew Dent, whose innovative designs were chosen from over 4000 entries. His designs, which interpret the traditional theme of heraldry in a contemporary way, will be seen and used by millions of people across the United Kingdom.”

The new designs for all UK coins were chosen via an open competition which was widely publicised in the national media in August 2005 and attracted 4,000 entries. The winning designer is 26-year-old Matthew Dent, originally from Bangor who now lives and works in London as a graphic designer. (more…)