Team GB strikes gold with commemorative Rio Olympics 50p coin

A commemorative 50p coin is to be launched to encourage British athletes going for gold at the Rio Olympics this summer.

The Royal Mint is striking the coin to celebrate British Olympic and Paralympic athletes heading to Brazil in August..

Team GB swimmer Jazz Carlin has already struck gold after she made one of the official coins.

Carlin, who last year became the first Welsh swimmer to win a Commonwealth title since 1974, said: "I am honoured to have been invited to the Royal Mint to strike the official Team GB gold edition 50p coin."

The Royal Mint's director of commemorative coin, Anne Jessopp, said she was "thrilled" to be supporting Team GB, adding that the 50p will "celebrate talent, dedication and Olympian spirit of the athletes".

The coins are available in gold, platinum and silver from the Royal Mint website, with prices starting from £5.