As Britain gears up for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Royal Mint is celebrating achievements from our heritage with the release of 18 sterling silver Proof coins. Each of the £5 coins features the London 2012 logo in colour on the reverse while the Queen’s portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS graces the obverse.
The image on this £5 coin of Rhossili Bay, located on the Gower Peninsula in Wales, represents the beautiful coastline of Britain.
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Designer Shane Greeves worked closely with the Royal Mint Engraving Team to produce this special coin that combines a stirring quote with a symbolic image to encapsulate the emotion, the wonders and greatness of Britain and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The inscription, ‘To see a world in a grain of sand’, by the poet and artist William Blake, plays on the notion that vast truths can be found in the smallest of things, alluding to the major role each athlete plays in uniting everyone the world over during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The length of Britain’s coastline, including its principal islands, is approximately 19,491 miles (31,368 kilometres). It boasts beautiful and dramatic scenery from estuaries, sandy beaches and dunes, salt marshes, fishing ports, rugged cliffs and rocky shores. From the famous white cliffs of Dover to the remote islands off Scotland, the coastline of Britain has made us the island nation we are today.
Featured on the coin is Rhossili Bay, which is located on the south-western tip of the Gower Peninsula near Swansea in Wales and designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The sandy beach, referred to locally as Llangennith Sands, stretches over three miles (five kilometres) and is backed with sand dunes. Famous for its breathtaking views, magnificent sunsets, long sandy beach and towering cliffs, Rhossili is a popular destination throughout the year with surfers, paragliders and ramblers yet still manages to maintain its tranquillity and unspoilt beauty.