The Royal Mint launches its limited edition Gold Series – an exclusive three themed set created in fine 22 carat gold only. Inspired by the Olympic motto Faster, Higher, Stronger, the ‘Faster’ Series is the first set to go on sale in celebration of the 30th Olympiad in London 2012.

Including the rare £100 coin – the highest denomination for a coin available – the prestigious Gold Series is the ideal high-end memento of the first UK Olympics for over sixty years. With only 4,000 of these sets available to buy globally, this unique set is accompanied by an individually numbered Royal Mint certificate denoting the limited mintage of these coins and ensuring their high value investment in years to come.

The Faster Series coin set is presented in a luxurious hardwood walnut case with the Olympic Rings inscribed in gold foiling on the lid. The second and third three-coin sets of this singular collection, representing Altius (Higher) and Fortius (Stronger) will be available to purchase later in the countdown to London 2012.

Inspired by the classical heritage of the Olympic Games and combined with modern sporting achievement, each of the three coins in the distinctive Faster collection feature a different Roman God reflecting the first strand of the Olympic motto ‘Citius’ or ‘Faster’: Neptune, the God of the Sea, (1oz) watches over the sport of sailing; Diana, the Goddess of Hunting, (1/4oz) overlooks modern cyclists and Mercury, the God of Speed, (1/4oz) is depicted alongside track athletes.

The obverse of the coin has been designed by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS with the Olympic reverse designed by sculptor John Bergdahl, who looked at both the classical and contemporary interpretations of the Olympic Games. Bergdahl explained: “The Olympic ideals span more than two and a half thousand years of history so I took inspiration from combining the classical ideology of the ancient Gods with images of modern athletes in modern attire and equipped with modern technology. And who knows, maybe those same Gods will still be smiling down on us in London 2012.”

Dave Knight, Director of Commemorative Coins, commented: “The Gold Series is incredibly exciting for us; it is the only collection in our London 2010 coin programme to feature the iconic Olympic rings and is the first ever £100 UK coin not featuring Britannia. As the name suggests, the collection is exclusively in gold and will not be available in any other metal. All these factors come together to make the Series highly prestigious and highly desirable. With the Faster set being the first launch from The Gold Series, I have no doubt that global demand will be incredibly strong and sell out quickly.”

Neptune

The God of the sea, Neptune’s order, control and authority of the seas were absolute and indisputable, making him one of the most respected of the gods. This coin represents the strong connection between Neptune and the Olympic sport of Sailing, a sport in which the Olympians must command and control whatever the water throws at them, just as Neptune did.

Mercury

An athletic and vigorous young god, Mercury was renowned as being the messenger of the gods, flying swiftly between the mortal and immortal worlds. The coin’s design represents the strong association Mercury has with the modern day athlete, in particular the Olympic runner – a vigorous athlete who relies on the similar attributes demonstrated by Mercury, such as speed and agility.

Diana

The Goddess of the hunt, Diana followed and pursued her reward armed simply with a bow and arrows in search of her prey. On this coin we see Diana with the Olympic cyclist. Hunters in their own right, they pursue and chase their reward often stopping at nothing to reach their target – the finish line and Olympic Gold.

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The design depicts the famous icon of Britain and British coinage as an Amazonian-like warrior, with a protective and serene watch over modern Britain’s liberty and values.

The new design has been launched to celebrate Britannia’s enduring presence as an important symbol of national identity in changing times.

Designer Suzie Zamit says: “Britannia is a really important British icon and I wanted to create a design that represents her as a symbol of British liberties and democracy. I felt it was important to portray Britannia as strong -- almost Amazonian -- and courageous, but not overly warlike, more peaceful and protective.”

The new 2010 Britannia coin series is launched in both gold and silver, available in an extended range of both individual coins and Proof sets. Suzie Zamit’s beautiful design is the first new Britannia design since 2008 and offers a fresh interpretation of the goddess, capturing the strong, courageous and watchful qualities of her spirit.

The new Britannia wears a Corinthian-style helmet, emphasising her warlike spirit and is accompanied by a lion to symbolise courage. However, Britannia’s serene gaze and the presence of an olive branch, also portrays the goddess as a protective defender of peace and modern British liberty and values. Her eastward looking gaze alludes to Britain’s role in the EU and its presence in Afghanistan.

Dave Knight, Director of Commemorative Coin at the Royal Mint, said: “Britannia is an enduring icon that has become an integral part of British coinage and heritage. She represents the strength of the British national identity and Suzie Zamit has captured this force in her new design. We are delighted to have created a coin that honours the history of British coins, whilst celebrating the future of modern Britain. Our 2010 Britannia Series is a great chance for us, along with the public, to celebrate this constant symbol of British success.”

Background and Video of the History of Britannia

• The image of Britannia is closely associated with British coinage (and used on the reverse of the circulating 50p coin until 2008). The Britannia Silver Bullion Coin was introduced in 1997.
• Britannia is an ancient term for Great Britain, and also a symbol of the island. The name is Latin, and derives from the Greek form Prettanike or Brettaniai, which originally designated a collection of islands with individual names, including Albion or Great Britain. However, by the first century BC Britannia came to be used for Great Britain specifically.
• In the second century, Roman Britannia came to be portrayed as a goddess, armed with a spear and shield and wearing a centurion’s helmet. A highly recognisable image that has survived until today.
• It was the Romans who, in recording their invasion and colonisation of Britain, first portrayed Britannia on their coins. Much later Britannia was to become a fitting symbol to grace the reverse of the copper coins of Charles II when her image symbolised her sovereignty of the seas.
• Universally recognised as a British icon, she has graced the coins of every British monarch since then. On the coinage of the present Queen, she featured on every pre-decimal penny and following decimalisation, was chosen to appear on the 50p coin until 2008.
• She was chosen to grace the new gold Britannia coinage introduced in 1987, and on the silver bullion coins introduced from 1997.

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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.

The 2008 United Kingdom Handover Ceremony £2 Silver Proof Coin

Also available is a limited edition Sterling silver version of the coin, struck to impeccable Proof quality. This superb coin has an outer ring plated with fine gold, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, attesting to the low product issue limit of only 20,000.

The 2008 United Kingdom Olympic Games Handover Ceremony £2 Gold Proof Coin

# The first ever United Kingdom coin to feature the Olympic Flag and the London 2012 logo
# Strict issue limit of 3,000*
# Struck in 22 carat red and yellow gold
# Produced to exceptional Proof quality
# The obverse bears the portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
# Authorised by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
# Housed in a high quality walnut-veneer case featuring an official London 2012 holographic security device

All coins are available from the Royal Mint Website

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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.

A new standing portrait of Britannia has been created for the coins of 2008 and is the work of John Bergdahl who ‘wanted to convey a sense of Britannia being at one with the wind and sea and to make her seem elemental. I also wanted to incorporate traditional motifs, like the lighthouse, which have long been associated with Britannia in coin designs. Britannia here is shown to be maiden-like and innocent while at the same time being a warrior princess.’

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The Royal Mint

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.

There are a limited number of these unusually thick prestige pieces from England, most spectacularly the gold double sovereigns of Henry VII which bore the same design as the sovereign. The Mint indentures do not provide for double sovereigns and it seems probable, therefore, that they were special productions created by order of the king.

After the decline of the European tradition of the prestige pieces in the eighteenth century, the striking of modern Piedforts on a regular basis began at the Monnaie de Paris in the 1890s, partly in answer to demands from collectors. It was not until the introduction of the twenty pence in 1982, however, that the Royal Mint made a Piedfort version of a United Kingdom coin available to the public.

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