Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908, Coin from United Kingdom
CoinTwo Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908

The bi-metallic £2 coin is the largest circulating coin denomination of the Pound Sterling. It was introduced in 1998 (earlier two pound coins were made of Nickel brass, were intended as commemorative, and did not circulate much). Being bi-metallic means that the coin comprises two separate components of differing alloys - a Nickel-Brass outer ring with inner circle of CuproNickel.

The Royal Mint maintains a "definitive" style of the £2 issued annually, as well as a large variety of one-year circulating commemorative types and some Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT) £2 coins for collectors. Between 1997 and 2015, the definitive type was the Technology type £2, which was then changed to the Britannia type £2.

The one-year type coins celebrate important anniversaries or people, as well as iconic aspects of British culture and history.

This circulating commemorative £2 coin marks the Centenary (100th anniversary) of the London 1908 Olympic Games.

The first modern Olympic Games took place in Athens in 1896, the vision of Baron Pierre de Coubertin. His dream was to bring together people of the world in a spirit of friendly competition where leading athletes could strive for victory and personal excellence. Since then, the Olympic Games have become the greatest festival of sport in the world. The first time they were held in London was in 1908 at the purpose-built stadium in White City.

£2 coins issued in 2008 have now been in circulation for 16 years.

MintRoyal Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 1,112,171 (1.1 million)
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Obverse
United Kingdom / Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908 - obverse photo

The obverse of the coins shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.

In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).

Around the effigy is the monarch's legend: ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·. Translated ffrom Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.

Obverse Inscription ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Reverse
United Kingdom / Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908 - reverse photo

The reverse features a running track, an image that is strongly associated with the Olympic Games. The anniversary date of 1908 is positioned within the track, with the words LONDON OLYMPIC CENTENARY encircling the design.

In two lines along the track, the value and denomination TWO POUNDS; along the next track, the date 2008.

The designer's initials TD (for Thomas Docherty) are incuse in the lower left field, on the continuation of the line separating the lanes.

Reverse Inscription 1908 LONDON OLYMPIC CENTENARY TWO POUNDS 2008
EdgeMilled and inscribed (incuse lettering)Edge InscriptionTHE 4TH OLYMPIAD LONDON
Notes

Mintage figure comprised of:
910,000 coins released into circulation
29,594 brilliant uncirculated in presentation folder
136,244 brilliant uncirculated in sets
36,333 proofs
Off-metal strikes not included.

The two Olympic £2 commemoratives of 2008 are not omitted from the new editions of Spink as it seems on perusal of the £2 section, but moved to a special section on the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games coins. They have not been re-numbered to the new reference ID scheme.

Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908: Known varieties
Variety Brilliant Uncirculated in presentation folder
Mintage Issued: 29,594 (included in total)
Details

29,594 issued from 100,000 limit.

Variety In mint sets
Mintage Issued: 136,244 (included in total)
In Set 2008 United Kingdom Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Collection, mintage 79,118
9 coins: £2 Technology, £2 London Olympics 1908, £1 Royal Arms, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p
- variety: 2008 United Kingdom Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Collection (Baby Gift Set), mintage unknown (included in the above set)
Variety Proof FDC
Mintage Issued: 36,333 (included in total)
In Set United Kingdom 2008 Proof Coin Collection, mintage 17,719
11 coins: £5 Queen Elizabeth I, £5 Prince Charles, £2 Technology, £2 London Olympics 1908, £1 Royal Arms, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p
- variety: United Kingdom 2008 Proof Coin Collection (Deluxe), mintage 13,614 (not included in the above set)
- variety: United Kingdom 2008 Executive Proof Coin Collection, mintage 5,000 (not included in the above set)
Variety Silver Proof FDC
Mintage Issued: 6,481
Material0.925 Silver
In Set The United Kingdom Family Silver Collection 2008, mintage 1,182
4 coins: £5 Queen Elizabeth I, £5 Prince Charles, £2 Britannia, £2 London Olympics 1908, £1 Royal Arms
Variety Silver Proof Piedfort
Mintage Issued: 1,619
Material0.925 Silver
In Set The 2008 UK Silver Proof Piedfort Four-Coin Collection, mintage 1,746
4 coins: £5 Queen Elizabeth I, £5 Prince Charles, £2 London Olympics 1908, £1 Royal Shield of Arms
Variety Gold Proof FDC
Images United Kingdom / Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908 / Gold Proof FDC - obverse photo United Kingdom / Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908 / Gold Proof FDC - reverse photo
Mintage Issued: 1,908
Material0.917 Gold
Details

Mintage of 1,908 coins includes those issued individually, plus coins in sets.

In Set The 2008 United Kingdom £2 Gold Proof Two-Coin Set (Olympic), mintage unknown
2 coins: £2 1908 Olympics Centenary, £2 Olympic Handover
Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908: References to Information Used
SourceEditionAboutLinkNotes
Royal Mint Coin description link
Royal Mint 14th October 2019 Mintage link Circulation mintage
Royal Mint Mintage link Varieties mintage
All (74) coins of type: Two Pounds
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Two Pounds 1986 XIII Commonwealth Games 8,484,005 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F · D · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 1989 Bill of Rights (English) 4,541,704 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F · D · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 1989 Claim of Right (Scottish) 455,704 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F · D · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 1994 Bank of England 1,687,808 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F · D · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 1995 End of WW2 5,166,286 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F · D · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 1995 United Nations 1,750,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F · D · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 1996 Football 5,312,555 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F · D · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 1997 Technology 13,924,930 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F · D
Two Pounds 1998 Technology 91,270,237 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 1999 Technology 33,719,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 1999 Rugby World Cup 5,149,840 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2000 Technology 25,960,219 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2001 Technology 35,091,863 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2001 Marconi 4,665,113 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2002 Technology 13,146,059 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2002 Commonwealth Games - England 702,694 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2002 Commonwealth Games - Scotland 823,944 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2002 Commonwealth Games - Wales 640,694 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2002 Commonwealth Games - Northern Ireland 537,694 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2003 Technology 17,687,762 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2003 Discovery of DNA 4,497,080 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2004 Technology 12,101,137 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2004 Trevithick 5,195,399 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2005 Technology 3,959,513 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2005 Gunpowder Plot 5,274,807 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2005 End of World War II 10,244,686 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2006 Technology 16,752,689 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2006 Brunel - Portrait 8,120,612 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2006 Brunel - Achievements 7,602,742 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2007 Technology 10,308,215 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2007 Act of Union 7,683,956 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2007 Slave Trade 8,583,781 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 2008 Technology 30,222,451 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908 1,112,171 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2008 Olympic Games Handover 965,765 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 2009 Technology 8,915,770 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2009 Robert Burns 3,513,993 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · 2009 ·
Two Pounds 2009 Charles Darwin 4,163,483 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2010 Technology 6,920,844 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2010 Florence Nightingale 6,279,004 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · 2010 ·
Two Pounds 2011 Technology 24,404,004 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2011 King James Bible 1,060,242 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 2011 Mary Rose 1,121,987 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · 2011 ·
Two Pounds 2012 Technology 3,900,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2012 Charles Dickens 8,237,838 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · TWO POUNDS · 2012
Two Pounds 2012 Olympic Games Handover 873,356 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · TWO POUNDS · 2012
Two Pounds 2013 Technology 15,907,187 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2013 Anniversary of the Guinea 3,032,422 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 2013 London Underground - The Roundel 1,612,979 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 2013 London Underground - The Train 1,744,079 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 2014 Technology 18,200,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2014 Trinity House 3,743,510 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2014 WW1 - Outbreak 5,798,836 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 2015 Technology 35,405,820 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2015 Magna Carta (Fourth Portrait, in sets only) 66,636 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · TWO POUNDS · 2015
Two Pounds 2015 Royal Navy (Fourth Portrait, in sets only) 72,827 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · TWO POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 2015 Magna Carta (Fifth Portrait) 1,495,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · F · D · TWO POUNDS · 2015
Two Pounds 2015 Royal Navy (Fifth Portrait) 650,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · F · D · 2 POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 2015 Britannia 675,285 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2015 ·
Two Pounds 2016 Britannia 2,925,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2016 ·
Two Pounds 2016 Army 9,605,341 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · F · D · 2 POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 2016 Shakespeare - Histories 5,719,676 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · F · D · 2 POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 2016 Shakespeare - Comedies 4,416,835 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · F · D · 2 POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 2016 Shakespeare - Tragedies 4,679,885 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · F · D · 2 POUNDS ·
Two Pounds 2016 Great Fire of London 1,689,347 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Two Pounds 2017 Britannia (mint sets only) 53,481 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2017 ·
Two Pounds 2018 Britannia (mint sets only) 33,086 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2018 ·
Two Pounds 2019 Britannia (mint sets only) 53,928 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2019 ·
Two Pounds 2020 Britannia (mint sets only) 56,468 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2020 ·
Two Pounds 2021 Britannia 6,097,674 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2021 ·
Two Pounds 2022 Britannia 4,131,220 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2022 ·
Two Pounds 2022 Technology - 25 Years 28,540 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 2 POUNDS · 2022 ·
Two Pounds 2023 Four Nations (mint sets only) unknown King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF · 2023 ·
Two Pounds 2024 Four Nations unknown King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF · 2024 ·
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Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling
Coin TypeTwo Pounds (One year types)
Issued2008
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
EffigyQueen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait, by Ian Rank-Broadley
Face Value2 (x Pound)
Circulation Mintage910,000
Total Mintage1,112,171 (1.1 million)
CurrentYes
MaterialBimetallic
DesignerThomas T Docherty
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size28.4000 mm
Thickness2.5000 mm
Mass12.0000 g
OCC IDDBYN-KEDD-CKXD-EPQM
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Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908: Photos
ImageDetails
Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908: Photo 2008 London Olympic Centenary 4th Olympiad Gold Proof £2 Coin / thumbnail 2008 London Olympic Centenary 4th Olympiad Gold Proof £2 Coin
Copyright: Chards
Source
Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908: Photo 2008 London Olympic Centenary 4th Olympiad Gold Proof £2 Coin / thumbnail 2008 London Olympic Centenary 4th Olympiad Gold Proof £2 Coin
Copyright: Chards
Source
Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908: Photo 2008 London Olympic Games of 1908 £2 / thumbnail 2008 London Olympic Games of 1908 £2
Copyright: Royal Mint
Source
Two Pounds 2008 London Olympic Games 1908: Catalogue Reference IDs