August 2, 2012 – With just 12 days until the start of London 2012, on July 16, 2012The Royal Mint has unveiled the London 2012 Handover to Rio UK £2 Coin; the final coin in The Royal Mint’s London 2012 Coin programme.
Great Britain / 2 GBP / .925 sterling silver (inner) and .925 sterlin silver plated with fine gold / 24.00 g / 28.40 mm / Design: Jonathan Olliffe (reverse) and Ian Rank-Broadley (obverse).
At the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Games, the world will be watching as London hands over the mantle to the next Host City, Rio de Janeiro. To celebrate the milestone, The Royal Mint has created a collection of coins in Base Metal to Brilliant Uncirculated standard, Silver Proof, Silver Piedfort Proof and Gold Proof as a fitting way for collectors to mark the end of their 2012 Olympic journey.
Designer and silversmith Jonathan Olliffe designed the London 2012 Handover to Rio Coin. His past experience of coin design in conjunction with The Royal Mint – when in 2010 his Aquatics and Gymnastic coin designs were selected as part of the 50p Sports Collection – helped with his approach to the Handover to Rio Coin as he was already accustomed to the challenges posed in working on such a small and intricate scale.
Great Britain / 2 GBP / 22 carat yellow gold (inner) and 22 carat red gold (outer) / 15.976 g / 28.40 mm / Design: Jonathan Olliffe (reverse) and Ian Rank-Broadley (obverse).
The reverse of the London 2012 Handover Coin has many features that represent the Handover Ceremony, the focus of which are the two hands meeting, handing over the Olympic relay baton. This is symbolic of the Olympic athlete’s race but also serves as the symbol of two nations coming together, passing on the baton for future Games.
The hands are embraced by a continuous sweeping flag; the flag of the United Kingdom sweeps down and twists to reveal the flag of Brazil. The pennant is on a continuous journey, symbolising the Olympic movement from London to Rio and beyond and as it twists and turns, five stripes are revealed, representing the five Olympic Rings. The movement suggests energy, excitement and an overall sense of celebration in anticipation of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The obverse of the coin features the current portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.
The London 2012 Handover to Rio UK £2 Gold Proof Coin is housed in a wood-veneer presentation case and comes with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity, whilst the Silver Proof and Silver Piedfort Proof £2 Coins are displayed in a black case. The Base Metal Coin comes in a superb presentation folder featuring interesting facts about the Closing Ceremony. All London 2012 Handover to Rio UK £2 Coins are available from The Royal Mint’s website.
Inform yourself about the Olympic Games at London 2012.