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Olympic £2 coin launched Olympic handover coin launched
(41 minutes later)
The Royal Mint has unveiled a new £2 coin to mark the handover of the Olympic Games from Beijing to London. The Royal Mint has unveiled a £2 coin to mark the handover of the Olympic Games from Beijing to London.
The coin was presented by London Mayor Boris Johnson to the Mayor of Beijing Guo Jinlong on Sunday. The coin was presented by London Mayor Boris Johnson to the Mayor of Beijing, Guo Jinlong, on Sunday.
The design shows two hands passing the Olympic flag, encircled by the words Beijing 2008 and London 2012. The design of the limited edition coin shows two hands passing the Olympic flag, encircled by the words "Beijing 2008" and "London 2012".
It is the first legal tender UK coin to display the Olympic emblem and the first to show the London 2012 logo.It is the first legal tender UK coin to display the Olympic emblem and the first to show the London 2012 logo.
Mr Johnson said giving it to Mr Guo on behalf of London was "a great honour, matched only by the enormous privilege of receiving the Olympic flag at Beijing's fantastic closing ceremony".Mr Johnson said giving it to Mr Guo on behalf of London was "a great honour, matched only by the enormous privilege of receiving the Olympic flag at Beijing's fantastic closing ceremony".
"Together they mark the beginning of one of the most exciting periods in the long and colourful history of our wonderful capital city.""Together they mark the beginning of one of the most exciting periods in the long and colourful history of our wonderful capital city."
The other side of the limited edition coin features Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of the Queen. The other side of the coin features Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of the Queen.
Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London 2012 organising committee, said: "The sale of mementoes of this kind are a tradition of the Olympic and Paralympic movement and one that London 2012 and the Royal Mint will continue with the release of over the four years leading up to the 2012 Games."Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London 2012 organising committee, said: "The sale of mementoes of this kind are a tradition of the Olympic and Paralympic movement and one that London 2012 and the Royal Mint will continue with the release of over the four years leading up to the 2012 Games."