Additionally, a series of four £5 coins were issued, starting in 2009 and continuing until 2012, to celebrate the countdown to the Olympics.īut undoubtedly, the coin series with the most popularity is the 2011 Olympic 50p coin collection. In that year, the Royal Mint released a £2 commemorative coin, the 2008 London Olympics Beijing Handover £2 Circulated Coin, to mark the handover.

The Royal Mint first got involved in promoting the Olympics from the moment the official handover was shown on TV at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. When did the Royal Mint decide to make these commemorative coins? The bronze medals were made of 97% copper, 2.5% zinc, and 0.5% tin. The gold medals were plated with 6 grams of pure gold, while the silver medals were left unplated. They were made using 92.5% silver, with a total weight of 375-400 grams.

The London 2012 Olympic medals were the largest ever produced by the Royal Mint.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games, also referred to as the 14th Summer Paralympic Games, took place following the Olympics, from August 29th to September 9th, 2012, with over four thousand athletes competing in 20 different sports.Īnd did you know, the medals awarded at the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games were designed and manufactured by the Royal Mint? They made approximately 4,700 medals for the two events. The hosting of these Games still holds the record for the largest sporting event ever to take place in the UK, welcoming over ten thousand athletes from around the world, to compete in 26 different sports The London 2012 Olympics Games, also referred to as the Games of the XXX Olympiad, took place in the summer of 2012 between 27th July and 12th August, 2012. Where it all began: The London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics and the 2011 Olympic 50p coins In this article, we'll look at the story behind these iconic coins, explore their designs and take a look at how much they are worth today. These coins were not only a celebration of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but also a testament to the rich heritage and culture of the United Kingdom. Have you ever wondered how a small piece of metal can hold so much history and significance? Well, the 2011 Olympic 50p coins are a perfect example of this.

50p 2024 olympics collection