London 2012 Olympic Games 50p Coins
The largest set of coins produced has 29 designs created to mark the London 2012 Olympics. The 50p sports collection focus on 29 popular Olympic sports all designed by different people.
The Athletics coin, featuring a high jumper performing a Fosbury flop to clear the bar, was designed by Blue Peter competition winner Florence Jackson. (Aged 9 at the time, 2009).This is the only design with a coin dated 2009 (all others are 2011). The 2009 version was issued in 100,000 Blue Peter 50p winners edition presentation packs, so would be unlikely to appear in your change. You have a much better chance of finding find the 2011 version which had 2,224,000 coins enter circulation.
The 50p sports collection based on 29 Olympic sports. All the coins were given a number to help identity them, the numbers are shown on this page, for example the Athletics coin was assigned 3/29 (3 of 29).
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Aquatics
Coin Number: 1 / 29
Rare Rank: 27
Guide Value: 2.19
Checker Chance: 1 in 784 coins
Circulation: 2179000
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Archery
Coin Number: 2 / 29
Rare Rank: 29
Guide Value: 1.09
Checker Chance: 1 in 511 coins
Circulation: 3345500
Coin Name: London 2012 Olympic Athletics
Coin Number: 3 / 29
Rare Rank: 28
Guide Value: 2.20
Checker Chance: 1 in 768 coins
Circulation: 2224000
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Badminton
Coin Number: 4 / 29
Rare Rank: 22
Guide Value: 1.21
Checker Chance: 1 in 801 coins
Circulation: 2133500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Basketball
Coin Number: 5 / 29
Rare Rank: 14
Guide Value: 1.32
Checker Chance: 1 in 977 coins
Circulation: 1748000
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Boccia
Coin Number: 6 / 29
Rare Rank: 25
Guide Value: 1.10
Checker Chance: 1 in 789 coins
Circulation: 2166000
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Boxing
Coin Number: 7 / 29
Rare Rank: 24
Guide Value: 1.32
Checker Chance: 1 in 795 coins
Circulation: 2148500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Canoeing
Coin Number: 8 / 29
Rare Rank: 26
Guide Value: 1.10
Checker Chance: 1 in 788 coins
Circulation: 2166500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Cycling
Coin Number: 9 / 29
Rare Rank: 19
Guide Value: 1.10
Checker Chance: 1 in 817 coins
Circulation: 2090500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Equestrian
Coin Number: 10 / 29
Rare Rank: 23
Guide Value: 1.38
Checker Chance: 1 in 797 coins
Circulation: 2142500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Fencing
Coin Number: 11 / 29
Rare Rank: 20
Guide Value: 1.11
Checker Chance: 1 in 807 coins
Circulation: 2115500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Football
Coin Number: 12 / 29
Rare Rank: 1
Guide Value: 7.15
Checker Chance: 1 in 1517 coins
Circulation: 1125500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Goalball
Coin Number: 13 / 29
Rare Rank: 6
Guide Value: 1.67
Checker Chance: 1 in 1057 coins
Circulation: 1615500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Gymnastics
Coin Number: 14 / 29
Rare Rank: 12
Guide Value: 1.87
Checker Chance: 1 in 993 coins
Circulation: 1720813
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Handball
Coin Number: 15 / 29
Rare Rank: 9
Guide Value: 1.71
Checker Chance: 1 in 1019 coins
Circulation: 1676500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Hockey
Coin Number: 16 / 29
Rare Rank: 17
Guide Value: 1.87
Checker Chance: 1 in 963 coins
Circulation: 1773500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Judo
Coin Number: 17 / 29
Rare Rank: 3
Guide Value: 5.50
Checker Chance: 1 in 1470 coins
Circulation: 1161500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Modern Pentathlon
Coin Number: 18 / 29
Rare Rank: 10
Guide Value: 1.54
Checker Chance: 1 in 1011 coins
Circulation: 1689500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Rowing
Coin Number: 19 / 29
Rare Rank: 11
Guide Value: 1.68
Checker Chance: 1 in 995 coins
Circulation: 1717300
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Sailing
Coin Number: 20 / 29
Rare Rank: 15
Guide Value: 1.87
Checker Chance: 1 in 976 coins
Circulation: 1749500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Shooting
Coin Number: 21 / 29
Rare Rank: 7
Guide Value: 2.20
Checker Chance: 1 in 1031 coins
Circulation: 1656500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Table Tennis
Coin Number: 22 / 29
Rare Rank: 13
Guide Value: 1.44
Checker Chance: 1 in 983 coins
Circulation: 1737500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Taekwondo
Coin Number: 23 / 29
Rare Rank: 8
Guide Value: 1.87
Checker Chance: 1 in 1026 coins
Circulation: 1664000
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Tennis
Coin Number: 24 / 29
Rare Rank: 5
Guide Value: 1.88
Checker Chance: 1 in 1175 coins
Circulation: 1454000
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Triathlon
Coin Number: 25 / 29
Rare Rank: 4
Guide Value: 7.15
Checker Chance: 1 in 1468 coins
Circulation: 1163500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Volleyball
Coin Number: 26 / 29
Rare Rank: 21
Guide Value: 1.10
Checker Chance: 1 in 801 coins
Circulation: 2133500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Weightlifting
Coin Number: 27 / 29
Rare Rank: 18
Guide Value: 1.32
Checker Chance: 1 in 909 coins
Circulation: 1879500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Wheelchair Rugby
Coin Number: 28 / 29
Rare Rank: 16
Guide Value: 1.38
Checker Chance: 1 in 967 coins
Circulation: 1765500
Coin Name: 2011 London 2012 Olympic Wrestling
Coin Number: 29 / 29
Rare Rank: 2
Guide Value: 4.39
Checker Chance: 1 in 1512 coins
Circulation: 1129500
The completer medallion is particularly sought after as this was only issued from The Royal Mint in limited numbers. It was sold for £2.99, but with people wanting the medallion to complete this collection it is selling for much more on websites such as eBay.
During 2012 the complete set of brilliant uncirculated coins including the completer medallion was available for £89.50, but was later reduced to just £20! The coins were also available in starter packs of 3 or 9 coins and individually for £2.99. As with all coins from The Royal Mint, once sold they are no longer available, so new collectors of this set now will have to find people selling their packs or regular circulation coins.
With the popularity of these special designs, many have been removed from circulation and held in collections or money boxes.