XXX Olympiad, Countdown 1 £5 2011 Silver Proof

XXX Olympiad, Countdown 1 £5 2011 Silver Proof : présentation (texte en anglais)

Struck in .925 silver, the coin was the last of the 3 countdown issues, following Countdown 3 and Countdown 2 and building anticipation toward the opening of the Games themselves. Its reverse centres on the numeral 1, combined with imagery evoking athletic achievement and the official emblem of the London Games, so that the countdown theme reads clearly across the full set. The obverse bears the crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, linking the piece to the long tradition of British crown-sized commemoratives issued during her reign. For collectors, Countdown 1 completes the countdown sequence and pairs naturally with the earlier issues and the Royal Mint's wider Olympic programme, which ranks among the most ambitious commemorative undertakings in British numismatic history. As a tangible record of national excitement before a defining sporting event, it remains a popular choice for enthusiasts of Olympic numismatics, modern British commemoratives and thematic sports collections alike.