Artist Claire Aldridge explains the inspiration behind her exciting designs
'I included three Olympic sports for the first three coins of the series: Swimming, Running and Cycling, with the final design encompassing what all the athletes will be striving for, to be on the winner's podium.'
The striking design on the reverse of the 2011 coin represents the sport of Cycling, whilst the ticking clock counts down the time to 2012. The obverse features the portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.