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Design
details:
Nine-year-old (8 years old when entered) Florence Jackson, from Bristol, is revealed as the first
child ever to work with the Royal Mint to design a UK coin. Florence won
the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to design a coin celebrating London
2012 by taking part in a Blue Peter competition. The competition proved
one of the show's all time most popular, with Florence's design beating
over 17,000 other entries.
Florence Jackson said: "I am so excited. It was a real surprise to win.
I'd never entered a Blue Peter competition before, but really wanted to
take part because I love drawing. I chose high-jump because I'd watched it
on TV before and thought it looked fun. It was amazing to visit the Royal
Mint and see my picture turned into a coin. I can't wait to see it in my
pocket money!"
Florence's design for the Blue Peter 50p Winner's Edition coin was only the
17th design to appear on the UK's 50p.
Florence was joined by Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis and Blue Peter
presenter Andy Akinwolere at the Royal Mint to strike her first coin and
was officially announced as the competition winner on Blue Peter. Her
winning design depicts the high-jump, celebrating the Olympic and
Paralympics sport of Athletics.
Florence with Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis and Blue Peter presenter
Andy Akinwolere Denise Lewis said: "Florence has done all Olympians and
Paralympians proud. Her design is simple and effective and I'm honoured to
say I saw it first. Florence is a very deserving winner and her coin is a
great illustration of how everyone can be a part of London 2012."
Florence's winning design was the first in a series of 29 officially
licensed London 2012 50p coins, designed by the nation that will act as
lasting mementos of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the UK's most
significant sporting events for this generation. The remaining 28 designs
were revealed from 2010, the result of the Royal Mint's biggest ever
competition for the public to design the UK's coinage. Each coin
depicts a different Olympic or Paralympics sport.
text source and credit
Royal Mint |
