A Celebration of Britain

"Official Product of London 2012 "Limited Edition - only 95,000 coins available worldwide

As a lasting tribute to one of Britain's most famous landmarks and to celebrate Britain's pride in our heritage, the Stonehenge £5 coin is the perfect gift for those with an interest in British history while, at the same time, commemorating the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As Britain gears up for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Royal Mint is celebrating achievements from our heritage with the release of 18 sterling silver Proof coins. Each of the £5 coins features the London 2012 logo in colour on the reverse while the Queen's portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS graces the obverse.

The image of Stonehenge on this £5 coin highlights the advancements made by ancient civilizations.

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Designer Shane Greeves worked closely with the Royal Mint Engraving Team to produce this special coin that combines a stirring quote with a symbolic image to encapsulate the emotion, the wonders and greatness of Britain and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The inscription, 'Great things are done when men and mountains meet', by the poet and artist William Blake, can be seen as defining the commitment needed to overcome sporting challenges, while at the same time alluding to the neolithic monument itself.

The famous stone circle of Stonehenge, with its huge squarely shaped stones, its sophisticated joints and its perfect geometry, is unique within prehistoric Europe. It is one of the best known and one of the most enigmatic prehistoric sites in the world, standing as an enduring testimony to the people who built it in several phases from the Neolithic period (c3000BC) to the Bronze Age (c2600BC to 1600BC). An amazing feat of engineering and arguably the most sophisticated stone circle in the world, it remains a mystery.

The circle originally consisted of about 60 stones, yet few of them now remain. However, the monument we see today still inspires awe and admiration, attracting some 800,000 visitors a year to the Wiltshire site, and on the summer Solstice thousands of people gather to watch the sunrise. Much work goes on behind the scenes to ensure that Stonehenge and its unique prehistoric landscape are protected for future generations.