Londoners Hoard Special 50 Pences

6 July 2012, 11:50 | Updated: 6 July 2012, 11:56

The special 50 pence coins, created to mark the London Olympics, are being lost from circulation because people are keeping them as souvenirs.

The coins feature London 2012 sporting designs.

The Royal Mint says of the more than 29 million commemorative coins in circulation, they are preparing for up to 70 percent to be hoarded by collectors.

Interest in the London Olympic 50 pence coins is running higher than any previous special coin.

In the case of the commemorative Victoria Cross 50 pence issued in 2006, of the 22 million released more than 10 million disappeared from circulation.