Celebrate the closing chapter of a memorable home Games with the 2012 UK ‘London 2012 Handover to Rio’ £2 coin. Issued to mark the moment when London passed the Olympic mantle to Rio de Janeiro at the London 2012 Closing Ceremony, this coin captures the spirit of continuity and international friendship at the heart of the Olympic movement.

The reverse design by Jonathan Olliffe shows a relay baton being passed between two hands, a powerful symbol of one host city handing responsibility to the next. Behind the athletes’ hands, the flags of the United Kingdom and Brazil appear intertwined, suggesting movement in the wind and the close link between the two nations at this historic moment. Subtle background lines echo the five Olympic rings, adding an extra layer of meaning to the image, while the inscriptions ‘LONDON 2012’ and ‘RIO 2016’ clearly connect the coin to both Games.

Around the milled edge runs the inscription “I CALL UPON THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD”, a phrase traditionally associated with the Olympic ideal and a fitting tribute to the next generation of athletes. This edge lettering provides an additional point of interest for those who enjoy the distinctive features of the £2 coin.

The obverse carries 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 Latin legend “ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · TWO POUNDS · 2012 ·” completes the design and follows the familiar style of modern UK coinage.

Struck in the standard bi‑metallic specification for UK £2 coins, the piece has a nickel‑brass outer ring and a copper‑nickel centre. It weighs 12 grams, measures 28.4 millimetres in diameter and has a thickness of 2.5 millimetres. Issued in 2012 and released into circulation in relatively limited numbers for a commemorative £2, the ‘Handover to Rio’ coin holds strong appeal for collectors of Olympic-themed issues and those building a complete set of UK circulating commemorative £2 coins.

*Image is representative of the coin you will receive 

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