England And Ireland £2 Commonwealth Coin?

[daz1969]

I am trying to complete my £2 coin collection, but I am stuck with the English and Irish Commonwealth £2 coin, in my collectors book they both look the same (flag) - can you tell me if there is a way of telling the English from the Irish coin - many thanks for your help

[ABerrant]

I presume you mean the 2002 Commonwealth Games £2 coin.

The four home nations were represented on seperate coins featuring the same overall design except for their individual flags incorporated within the obverse.

The flag used for the Northern Ireland coin (perhaps controversially) employed the Ulster Banner (Cross of St. George with Red Hand of Ulster and Monarch's Crown) the official flag of the Government of NI between 1953 and 1972 but still used for sports teams to the present day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Banner

English coin
http://taxfreegold.co.uk/images/2002twopoundscommonwealthgamesenglandgoldproofrev400.jpg

NI coin
http://taxfreegold.co.uk/images/2002twopoundscommonwealthgamesnorthernirelandgoldproofrev400.jpg