As a lasting tribute to the unity of the four countries of the UK, this £5 coin is the perfect gift for those with an interest in British history, to commemorate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and celebrate Britain’s pride in our heritage.
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 of the emblems of the four countries – the Rose of England, the Thistle of Scotland, the Leek of Wales and the Flax of Northern Ireland – celebrates the unity of the UK.
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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, ‘And the world will be as one’, by John Lennon from ‘Imagine’, builds on this unity as the Olympic and Paralympic Games unify the world through sporting achievement.
On 1 May 1707 the Kingdom of Great Britain was created by the political union of the Kingdom of
England (which included Wales) and the Kingdom of Scotland. Almost a century later the Kingdom of Ireland merged with the Kingdom of Great Britain to form the United Kingdom with the passing of the Act of Union. The four emblems also have a pleasing link with numismatic history, each representing their country on the first series of four £1 coins.
The national emblems of the four countries – the English Rose, the Scottish Thistle, the Welsh Leek and the Flax of Northern Ireland – appear on the coin. They symbolise the united Team GB as the Union flag will be held aloft at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Games.