The new coin, designed by Alex Loudon, will feature a cyclist and a runner along with lettering inspired by renowned Glasgow-born artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and will be finished by the Scottish Saltire.

The Commonwealth Games coin follows on from the success of the London 2012 50p piece released in the build-up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Royal Mint organised a public competition inviting people from England and Wales to design the London 2012 coins and, from more than 30,000 entries, 29 designs were picked to represent the sports being contested.

A schoolgirl from Bristol also won a competition on the BBC children's television programme Blue Peter to design a 50p coin which was in circulation during 2010.

Meanwhile in 2009, The Royal Mint launched a special £2 ($3.29/€2.41) coin to commemorate the handover of the Olympic flag from Beijing to London, while two £5 ($8.22/€6.02) coins were unveiled in 2011 featuring designs marking the 2012 Games.

The new Glasgow 2014 coin is one of a number of new coins being launched by The Royal Mint in the coming weeks ©The Royal Mint


The new Glasgow 2014 coin will go into circulation in a number of weeks and it is one of a number of new coins being launched, such those to mark the 100th anniversary of World War One and the 500th anniversary of Trinity House - the coastal defences that have helped protect shipping since 1514

"The Royal Mint has celebrated moments of national and cultural significance for more than 1,000 years," said Shane Bissett, director of commemorative coins at The Royal Mint.

"We wanted to reveal the coins to the British public and show the incredible works of art they can expect to see enter circulation this year.

"This will no doubt entice many to take a closer look at their change, collect their favourites and realise that many might be worth holding on to."

Pre-order the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games 50p coin here.

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