Celebrate Northern Ireland’s role on the international sporting stage with the 2002 UK XVII Commonwealth Games £2 coin for Northern Ireland, issued to mark the Games held in Manchester. This commemorative coin reflects ten days of competition, friendship and cultural celebration, when athletes from across the Commonwealth came together in one of the largest Games in the event’s history.

The reverse design by Matthew Bonaccorsi shows a powerful, dynamic figure of an athlete holding a banner high in a gesture of triumph and celebration. The top of the banner is divided into fine parallel lines, suggesting the lanes of a track or swimming pool and representing the many different sports contested at the Games. To the right of the design are the denomination and the inscription “XVII COMMONWEALTH GAMES”, clearly linking the coin to the Manchester Games. A small cameo of the Northern Ireland flag identifies this version of the coin and distinguishes it from the England, Scotland and Wales issues; the difference is subtle, making it an engaging detail for collectors to look for.

Around the milled edge runs the inscription “SPIRIT·OF·FRIENDSHIP·MANCHESTER·2002”, a phrase that captures the values of the Commonwealth Games and links the coin directly to its host city. This special edge lettering adds an extra feature of interest for those who enjoy exploring every aspect of a £2 coin’s design.

The obverse features the fourth definitive portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, with the Queen wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara. The surrounding Latin legend “ELIZABETH·II·DEI·GRA·REG·FID·DEF·” follows the established style of modern UK coinage and frames the effigy with dignity.

Struck in the standard bi‑metallic specification for UK £2 coins, the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games issue has a copper‑nickel centre within a nickel‑brass outer ring. It weighs 12 grams, measures 28.4 millimetres in diameter and is 2.5 millimetres thick, with a milled, inscribed edge. Issued in 2002 as one of four home nation designs, the Northern Ireland £2 coin is especially appealing to collectors completing the full Commonwealth Games set and to those who enjoy modern sporting commemoratives with subtle design variations.

*Image is representative of the coin you will receive 

**Struck for general circulation and subsequently acquired by The Royal Mint from the secondary market.