This race was for GB when running in the old format of the European Cup, which was held every 2 years in those days, and considered one of the highlights of the season. The final was usually held at the end of August, and those nations participating had to first qualify in the semi final meets.
This race occurred during the semi final of 1981 competition, and was Coe's first race since breaking the 800m WR in Firenze on 10.6.81. Immediately after that race he went down with a cold and missed a few planned races. He returned here, in Helsinki on July 5th, just 2 days before his planned attack on the 1500m WR in Stockholm, where he was looking to break 3:30.
In this tactical 800m, we see Coe controlling things from the front, before gradually increasing the pace along the back straight on the second lap, holding off Kirov round the last bend, and then launching his kick which pulled him 12m + away from the Olympic bronze medallist in the last 100m! He covered the last 200m here in 24.7, which is good enough in itself, but his last 100m was given at the time as 11.3secs, and is to my knowledge (and was certainly referenced as such at the time), the fastest last 100m in any international 800m race.
The on screen clock display has a residual difference of about 0.4 secs. Thus the clock shows Coe with 100m to go at 1:35.5 (see small post on inside of track), and although the finishing time comes up as 1:47.6, as Coe's torso crosses the finish line, the clock shows 1:47.2 (this is more clearly evident in the slow mo replay at the end). The onscreen clock moves up in tenths in some places and 0.2 secs in others, so not the most reliable. I've hand timed it quite a few times playing it back on tv, and I get somewhere around 11.3 - 11.7. It was certainly well under 12.0, but probably nearer to 11.7 than 11.3. The actual official finish time was given as 1:47.57 for Coe, with Kirov (Olympic 800m bronze medalist) at 1:49.11. This would put Kirov's last 100m at around 12.6, which seems very reasonable for a 1:45 man running a 1:49.