Commonwealth Games - Northern Ireland £2 Coin

Coin Summary & Key Facts

The 2002 Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland £2 is part of a four-coin set representing the home nations of the UK. Each design is almost identical except for the flag in the centre – this version shows the Ulster Banner. With only 485,500 struck for circulation, it is widely recognised as the rarest £2 coin in circulation.

Core specifications, mintage and value guidance for the 2002 Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games £2 coin.

This is the flagship rarity of the entire £2 series – the coin everyone quietly checks for whenever a battered Commonwealth Games design appears in their change.

• Commemorative theme: The reverse shows a stylised athlete holding a flowing banner, with lines at the top representing running lanes or a swimming pool. A circular cameo behind the figure contains the Northern Ireland flag, marking the participation of Team Northern Ireland in the 2002 Games.
• Part of a four-coin set: There are four near-identical 2002 Commonwealth £2 coins – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – distinguished only by the flag in the centre. The Northern Ireland version has the lowest mintage and is widely accepted as the hardest of the set to find.
• How to tell it apart from the England coin: On worn examples the flags look very similar. For Northern Ireland, look for:
  • the red cross on white background with a small crowned hand (Red Hand of Ulster) in the centre,
  • a tiny crown above the hand on sharper coins.
  The England coin shows only the plain St George’s cross with no hand or crown in the middle.
• Rarity in circulation: With just 485,500 struck, this coin makes up only a tiny fraction of the total £2 pieces in circulation – estimates put the “chance in change” at roughly 1 in 1,000–2,000, before factoring in how many are now in collections.
• Condition and value: Prices vary a lot with condition. Typical circulated coins (with honest wear but no serious damage) tend to fall in the £30–£60 region, while sharper examples, coins in original packs or graded pieces can go higher, especially when market interest spikes.
• Collecting tip: When evaluating a candidate for your collection, check:
  • that the flag details (hand and crown) are still visible,
  • that the athlete’s outline and banner aren’t too flattened,
  • that the edge inscription SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP · MANCHESTER 2002 is complete and legible.
  Because of the coin’s value, it’s also worth watching out for heavily damaged or altered pieces, and for misidentified England coins being sold as Northern Ireland.

In short, the 2002 Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland £2 coin is the key modern circulation rarity: visually subtle, numerically scarce, and a major “trophy” find for anyone building a full £2 collection.