Two Pounds 2012 Olympic Games Handover, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

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 · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · TWO POUNDS · 2012. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, followed by the value and denomination in English and the year.

The design depicts the moment of a baton handover in a relay race. The hand holding the baton descends from top right, above a sweeping flag of the United Kingdom which twists to become the flag of Brazil below the hand reaching up from bottom left to take the baton.

The inscription around left and above reads LONDON 2012; around right and below, RIO 2016.

The London 2012 Olympics logo is at the very top of the coin. The designer's initials JAO are near the rim on the left, under the base of outstretched hand.

The value, denomination and date are on the obverse.

Mintage figure comprised of:
845,000 coins released into circulation
28,356 brilliant uncirculated in presentation folder
Off-metal strikes not included.

The coin was not included in the BU or Proof mint sets of the year.

It is 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. It has not been re-numbered to the new reference ID scheme.