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Royal Mint unveils coin designs | Royal Mint unveils coin designs |
(1 day later) | |
The winning entry in a competition to design the first new British coin series for 40 years has been unveiled. | The winning entry in a competition to design the first new British coin series for 40 years has been unveiled. |
The designs, which each feature a part of the royal coat of arms, will be on coins from 1p to £1, with the familiar Queen's head image on the other side. | The designs, which each feature a part of the royal coat of arms, will be on coins from 1p to £1, with the familiar Queen's head image on the other side. |
Old coins will remain legal tender alongside the new versions being introduced this summer. | Old coins will remain legal tender alongside the new versions being introduced this summer. |
The designs mean no more 50p coins with Britannia, the female personification of Britain, will be produced. | The designs mean no more 50p coins with Britannia, the female personification of Britain, will be produced. |
'Tremendous honour' | 'Tremendous honour' |
There were 4,000 entries to the public competition to find the new designs. | There were 4,000 entries to the public competition to find the new designs. |
Matthew Dent, 26, from Bangor, Gwynedd, won the competition. He will have his work stamped on the side of millions of coins. | Matthew Dent, 26, from Bangor, Gwynedd, won the competition. He will have his work stamped on the side of millions of coins. |
The royal coat of arms featured in Matthew's designs are a symbol of the reigning monarch. | The royal coat of arms featured in Matthew's designs are a symbol of the reigning monarch. |
Mr Dent said: "For designs of mine to appear on a medium as significant and prestigious as the United Kingdom's coinage and to be produced and circulated in millions is a tremendous honour." | Mr Dent said: "For designs of mine to appear on a medium as significant and prestigious as the United Kingdom's coinage and to be produced and circulated in millions is a tremendous honour." |
The billions of existing coins will stay in circulation In pictures: New coins unveiled | The billions of existing coins will stay in circulation In pictures: New coins unveiled |
The six designs on the 1p through to the 50p coins can be pieced together to form a complete image of the royal shield of arms. The £1 coin features the complete shield. | The six designs on the 1p through to the 50p coins can be pieced together to form a complete image of the royal shield of arms. The £1 coin features the complete shield. |
It is the first time a single design has been used across a range of coins in this way. | It is the first time a single design has been used across a range of coins in this way. |
Coins featuring the old familiar designs such as the one penny piece's portcullis and chains will stay in circulation. This includes more than 800 million 50p coins featuring Britannia. | Coins featuring the old familiar designs such as the one penny piece's portcullis and chains will stay in circulation. This includes more than 800 million 50p coins featuring Britannia. |
The removal of Britannia from the 50p coins prompted a handful of MPs to ask the Government to intervene earlier this year. | The removal of Britannia from the 50p coins prompted a handful of MPs to ask the Government to intervene earlier this year. |
When the new coins are introduced this summer it will not be the first time the Britannia has not appeared on the 50p piece. For example the 2006 50p featured a commemorative design to mark the 150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross. | |
No change for £2 coin | No change for £2 coin |
Andrew Stafford, chief executive of the Royal Mint, said the new designs represented a very important day in history for British coinage. | Andrew Stafford, chief executive of the Royal Mint, said the new designs represented a very important day in history for British coinage. |
"It is the only work of art that every member of the general public touches every day, that is important to the nation's way of life," he said. | "It is the only work of art that every member of the general public touches every day, that is important to the nation's way of life," he said. |
The new designs will be the first wholesale change to the country's coinage since the first decimal coins were struck in April 1968. | The new designs will be the first wholesale change to the country's coinage since the first decimal coins were struck in April 1968. |
The seven coins that will change are the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p and £1. The £2 coin was introduced in 1998 and is not being redesigned. | The seven coins that will change are the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p and £1. The £2 coin was introduced in 1998 and is not being redesigned. |
The front of the coins will continue to bear the same portrait of the Queen, by Ian Rank-Broadley, which has been on coins since 1998. | The front of the coins will continue to bear the same portrait of the Queen, by Ian Rank-Broadley, which has been on coins since 1998. |
Sir Christopher Frayling, the chairman of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee said the existing coinage will remain in circulation, including the Britannia 50p." | Sir Christopher Frayling, the chairman of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee said the existing coinage will remain in circulation, including the Britannia 50p." |
"There are 806 million Britannias in circulation at the moment. They will remain in circulation. They will see all of us out, until they die a natural death. So whatever happens, Britannia stays around, " he said. | "There are 806 million Britannias in circulation at the moment. They will remain in circulation. They will see all of us out, until they die a natural death. So whatever happens, Britannia stays around, " he said. |