Name: Olympic Games Handover to Rio £2 Coin
Brand: The Royal Mint
Price: 45.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Detailed Information

Struck to commemorate the transition of the Olympic Games from London to Rio de Janeiro, the 2012 Olympic Games Handover £2 coin symbolises the passing of the Olympic flag from one host city to another. The reverse design, created by Jonathan Olliffe, depicts a baton being passed between two hands, with the flags of the UK and Brazil joined in motion. Like its predecessor, the coin carries the edge inscription ‘I CALL UPON THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD’.

🔥 2012 Olympic Games Handover to Rio £2 – BU

Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) bi-metallic £2 coin issued by The Royal Mint to mark the handover of the Olympic Games from London 2012 to Rio 2016 – struck to collector quality and sold in presentation packaging, not for general circulation.

BU Coin Summary & Key Facts

This is the Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) version of the 2012 Olympic Games Handover to Rio £2 coin. Unlike the 845,000 standard coins released into circulation, the BU coin was specially struck for collectors, with a limited presentation mintage and a much higher typical value than face.

📊 BU Specifications & Values

Core details specifically for the BU version of the Olympic Games Handover to Rio £2.

Aspect	Figure	Notes (BU-specific)
Denomination	£2 (Two Pounds)	Legal tender UK coin; BU pieces were sold in collector packaging rather than put into circulation.
Metal, weight & diameter	Outer: Nickel-brass Inner: Cupro-nickel Weight: 12.00 g Diameter: 28.40 mm	Same bi-metallic spec as the circulating coin; the difference is in the striking quality and handling (BU = no bag marks, no circulation wear).
Year & occasion	2012 – London → Rio handover	Issued to mark the closing of the London 2012 Olympic Games and the formal handover of hosting duties to Rio 2016.
BU presentation mintage	≈28,000–30,000 BU	Brilliant Uncirculated coins were sold in official Royal Mint packs (and sometimes other presentations) in much lower numbers than the circulation mintage of 845,000.
Designers	Reverse: Jonathan Olliffe Obverse: Ian Rank-Broadley	Same artwork as the circulation piece: hands passing a baton wrapped in the Union Flag and Brazilian flag, with LONDON 2012 · RIO 2016 around the outer ring.
Edge inscription	I CALL UPON THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD	Struck up cleanly on BU coins; often more legible than on circulated examples due to better strike and no wear.
Finish / quality	Brilliant Uncirculated	Struck using specially prepared dies on clean blanks, then handled carefully so the coin retains sharp detail and mint lustre. BU coins should show no circulation wear, though minor contact marks can still occur.
Packaging	Official BU folder / pack	Originally supplied in a printed Royal Mint presentation pack describing the London–Rio handover; intact packaging significantly boosts desirability and value.
Typical value (BU in pack)	About £40 to £50	Modern value guides commonly quote ~£48 as a working figure for a BU coin in its original Royal Mint pack, with actual listings varying by condition and demand.
Typical value (loose BU)	About £30 to £40	A BU-quality coin removed from its pack usually sells for less than a fully intact, carded example, but still carries a large premium over face value.

💡 Collector Notes – BU Version

The BU Handover to Rio £2 is the “collector grade” version of an already scarce modern £2. It combines low circulation mintage with even smaller BU presentation numbers, Olympic crossover appeal, and the visual drama of a baton being passed between two nations.

Why BU is different from circulation:
- BU coins are struck once, but on better-prepared dies and blanks than normal circulation coins.
- They are then handled carefully and packaged for collectors, rather than thrown into bulk bags and coin hoppers.
- As a result, BU coins should show sharper detail on the flags, baton, lettering and portrait, with bright surfaces and only tiny contact marks, if any.
Design highlights: On a crisp BU example, you should be able to pick out:
- fine folds and curves in the Union Flag and Brazilian flag,
- clear, raised lettering of “LONDON 2012 · RIO 2016”,
- sharp features on the Queen’s portrait, and
- a clean, readable edge inscription: I CALL UPON THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD.
Rarity & market position (BU): The BU coin has two layers of scarcity:
- a low underlying circulation mintage (845k), and
- a much smaller BU presentation run (tens of thousands).
That’s why BU prices sit in the tens of pounds rather than a modest premium like many other £2s.
What affects BU value most:
- Condition of the card/pack: creases, tears or sun fading will drag value down significantly.
- Toning or spotting: heavy toning or milk spots on the coin can reduce the appeal vs a bright example.
- Completeness: a full, unopened or carefully stored pack is usually worth more than a loose coin.
Collecting tip: If you’re buying specifically as a BU collectible:
- prioritise intact, clean Royal Mint packaging,
- check both sides of the coin under good light for scratches or spots,
- and keep the pack flat and dry (no PVC wallets) to avoid warping or toning over time.

Olympic Games Handover to Rio £2 Coin