Startling New British Coins
Thursday April 3, 2008
Great Britain's Royal Mint is updating the nation's coinage in a most surprising way. Although the new coins will retain the same sizes, weights, and metallic compositions, they are getting a startling face lift. The new coins, designed by Matthew Dent, feature traditional British and royal heraldry designs, but executed in a very 21st century way. Each coin bears a portion of an overall main design, which form a shield bearing the Royal Arms of Great Britain. If you look at the photo carefully, you will see that each coin has a portion of this overall shield on it!The new designs, which are the first major overhaul of British coinage since the Brits went on the decimal monetary system 40 years ago, are the result of a nationwide open design competition. Dent, a professional graphic artist who is 26, swept the competition with his clever shield arrangement. And although the intention was to redesign only the minor coinage, (the Penny through the 50 Pence,) Mint authorities decided the include the £1 coin as well. The £1 (not shown) bears the entire shield design on its reverse. All of the new designs, like all British coins, bear the standard portrait of the Queen on the obverse.
The Royal Mint has set up a special section of its Web site to introduce the new coins. Here are a few highlights:
- Home Page For the New Designs
- Biography Page About Matthew Dent
- Video of the New Coins Being Introduced (Includes footage of coins being minted)
Photo courtesy of the British Royal Mint. Special thanks to Scott P. Richert, the About.com Guide to Catholicism, and Scott Purvis at CoinLink News, both of whom made me aware of this new issue simultaneously. (I was reading Scott P.'s wonderful numismatic news roundup when the email came in from Scott R. As they say in Britain, "great Scott!" =)
Comments
Susan, I absolutely love the new coins, and I also really enjoyed your post on the new designs. Thank you!
The post about these coins was timely. I, for one, find them very unique and ordered a set of the old & new versions.
Thanks for the info!
I ordered a set of the new proof coins directly they were advertised.I received a letter on 8th May 2008 and another on 17th June.They are still waiting to become available.I’m getting a bit apprehensive now as they are such a low mintage
I take it all back – they’ve just arrived july28 !
John,
I’m glad you finally got your coins! What serial number did you get? Is it really high, like they’re almost sold out? I placed my order the day they went on sale and got (base metal) Proof Set number 1200-something, which surprised me. They arrived here in the U.S. within a couple of weeks. I think this set will be a big winner a decade from now when everyone has been using the coins for awhile and is used to them.
Susan Headley
About.com Guide to Coins
Susan
My serial numbers are in the 1100’s
The only snag is that they sent me temporary cases,and they reckon it will be some time in September before the proper cases arrive.
royal arms of ENGLAND??? I think not!!!
ROYAL ARMS OF UNITED KINGDOM OR BRITAIN SURELY
Tom,
Thank you for alerting me to my mistake about describing the Royal Arms on the new British coins. I certainly didn’t mean to offend anybody, and I apologize if I have done so. I have corrected the mistake, hopefully to your satisfaction.
Susan
I have a 20p coin in the April 2008 design issue in COPPER! It is slightly larger than a 1p coin and is round rather than having seven edges, otherwise identical to the cupronickel version. Is this a mistake, a forgery or what? I would appreciate any answers.