ROYAL MINT COMPETITION..DESIGN BRITAINS NEW COINS!

[eddyk]

The Royal Mint has launched a competition for the public to design the next generation of British coins (for the tale side).

ROYAL MINT INVITES MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO MAKE THEIR MARK ON HISTORY

Open competition launched to find new designs for United Kingdom coins

An open competition to find designs for six of the United Kingdom’s eight circulating coins is launched today (Wednesday 17 August 2005) by the Royal Mint.

Entries are expected to flood in as members of the public, and experienced artists alike, are invited to make their mark on history by coming up with the first new designs in forty years* for the reverse, or tail side, of the coins.

With the exception of the 20p, which was first issued in 1982, the reverse designs of coins from 1p to 50p were chosen in the late 1960s at the time of decimalisation. While the current designs have served their purpose well, it is hoped that a new series may better reflect modern Britain.

The design brief gives would-be designers a ‘free hand’ but as heraldry has been an important element in the design of British coins for centuries, entrants may want to look at interpreting heraldry in an ‘imaginative and creative way’ for a modern coinage. Alternatively, the brief suggests that they might like to consider themes to represent Britain, such as flora or fauna, geographic features, social, political or cultural achievements or British institutions. At a later stage members of the public will be consulted on the designs and will be given the opportunity to express their views prior to formal approval.

Neither the £1 nor £2 coins are included in the competition; a new series of reverse designs for the £1 coin (featuring famous bridges from around the United Kingdom) was introduced last year, while the bi-colour £2 coin – and its design representing Britain’s industrial and technological evolution – was introduced as recently as 1998.

Gerald Sheehan, Chief Executive of the Royal Mint, said the competition is an exciting way of making sure that the Mint has the widest possible input into new coin designs from as many people as possible. “Although we use coins everyday and we often take them and their designs for granted, it is fascinating how strongly people feel about the coinage and how integral it is to our history.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for people to be involved in designing their own coinage and, for the winning designer, there could be a prize of up to £30,000. We are looking forward to seeing what ideas are submitted,†he added.

Anyone interested in entering the competition should obtain an information and briefing pack from the Royal Mint:

Telephone: 0845 60 88 111

Address:

The Coin Design Competition Museum, Royal Mint, Llantrisant, Pontyclun, CF72 8YT

Or via the website: www.royalmint.com

The competition closing date is 14 November 2005.

The designs are for the reverse of the coins – the tail side. The obverse (the head side of the coin) features a portrait of the Queen. The current designs for the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p and 50p were by Christopher Ironside in preparation for decimalisation in 1971. The 50p has featured a number of other designs from time to time when it has been used to commemorate particular events, such as the 50th anniversary of athlete Roger Bannister’s four-minute mile. The 20p, which was introduced later, has a reverse design by William Gardner.

For further media information, please contact:

Jo Johnson/Noreen Bray

Good Relations

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[Chris Perkins]

Thanks eddyk that was very interesting, and even readable too, once I'd scrolled past your bloody iritiating avatar.

I don't suppose many of the public are talented enough to design a coin though. I expect whatever is chosen (if not from a professional artist) will be entirely re-worked by a Royal Mint designer anyway. And it will also be sad to say good bye to the familiar current designs. I think Britannia should stay somewhere though, as she has done since 1672 (and previously on Roman coins of course).

[Geordie582]

I think Britannia should stay somewhere though, as she has done since 1672 (and previously on Roman coins of course).

I concur with that,Chris. We should not go "modern" all the time and Britannia was impressive.

I still seem to have dislexic fingers and keep having to edit all the time. Is there a pill I can take? (No! Not a cyanide pill)

Edited August 17, 2005 by Geordie582

[Chris Perkins]

Try what ever eddy's avatar is on!

[Geordie582]

Speed?

[mint_mark]

"We are looking forward to seeing what ideas are submitted,†he added.

Should we not just submit the map design used on the reverse of Euros?

[Chris Perkins]

Should we not just submit the map design used on the reverse of Euros?

Oooo, I know where you're coming from.

The people have been promised a referendum on the Euro haven't they? If so, then I really think it would probably take a whole generation for them to agree to it. Maybe not at all if other countries like Denmark remain strong with their own currency, and especially not if the UK economy also remains as strong.

[Sylvester]

I'm seeing US State Quarters. This could be bad.

I dunno Chris the £2 coin design was submitted by a member of the public and it looks good to me.

To be honest i think we're ready for change, i won't shed too many tears over the redesigning of the 1p, 2p and 5p coins.

The 10p and the 50p i always kinda liked. The lion looks regal, and Britannia, well it's Britannia.

I think change could be good, but this line blew it for me;

The design brief gives would-be designers a ‘free hand’ but as heraldry has been an important element in the design of British coins for centuries, entrants may want to look at interpreting heraldry in an ‘imaginative and creative way’ for a modern coinage. Alternatively, the brief suggests that they might like to consider themes to represent Britain, such as flora or fauna, geographic features, social, political or cultural achievements or British institutions.

Clip art maps, or tons of coins looking like the 2005 sovereign with the new arty St. George... i shudder.

Going with a building theme of something would not be my preferred approach, but i can't help thinking that the Houses of Parliament might look good. Or Westminster Abbey.

But i'm seeing the London eye, the Millennium Dome and all that kibd of bland modern rubbish. Actually i think the Millennium Dome would make a good one with the words "MISTAKE" curving around the bottom, with 'BIGGEST' across the top.

[Geordie582]

Houses of Parliament might look good. Or Westminster Abbey.

Actually i think the Millennium Dome would make a good one with the words "MISTAKE" curving around the bottom, with 'BIGGEST' across the top.

The Palace of Westminster would look good! but, in your other idea, in place of the Millennium Dome I'd put a map of Iraq!

[Peter]

Get rid of the 1p

2p and 5p should be a similar design & with an uncluttered Brittania.(Croker?)..obviously different sizes.

I would be happy to see a MAJOR minting of £5 coins and phasing out of the fiver.

Too many commemeratives I believe spoil a denomination.

How about Proof's issued by the mint (max of three per year) with an agreed % of currency strikes issued randomly into circulation....say 10%,10% & 5%.

I like the idea of landmarks appearing on reverse's both new and old.....and British achievements.

I don't want to see fluffy little creatures.

A series of ex Primeministers portraits would be fun?

[Chris Perkins]

Simply because I've been involved in banknotes recently.....The Houses of Parliament appeared on the back of the Treasury issued £1 note (1916 - 1926 I believe)

[Geordie582]

Get rid of the 1p

The could never get rid of the 1p! How on earth could they give you change for their items costing £5.99, £10.99 £499.99........etc?

[Emperor Oli]

I'd rather not have buildings etc represented. I like the emblematic reverses that we have now (bar the bridge £1 series). Revamping the portcullis, thistle etc would be a better idea than totally new ones.

[Sylvester]

Get rid of the 1p

2p and 5p should be a similar design & with an uncluttered Brittania.(Croker)

I give you 37p for a pack of sweets marked up at 36p, i want my penny change.

I say get rid of the 5p first! Then drop the 1p. Keep the 2p and do everything in 2's.

[kuhli]

Get rid of the 1p

2p and 5p should be a similar design & with an uncluttered Brittania.(Croker)

I say get rid of the 5p first! Then drop the 1p. Keep the 2p and do everything in 2's.

Get rid of the 2p, and you instantly double the usefulness of the 1p!!! That is pure economics.

[Peter]

Looks like Euro's have been abandoned.

The 1/4d stopped being minted in 1956...we had decimilastion in 1971.....the 1/2p stopped in 1984.

£4.99 would simply become £4.98 and save the mint a fortune....

If the mint gave a little error (to say) every 10,000th coin it would keep us collectors busy.

[Geordie582]

£4.99 would simply become £4.98 and save the mint a fortune....

You're joking! £4.99 would become £5 and, as usual, vendors would rake in lots of extra 1p's!

[Chris Perkins]

Someone just called from the London Evening Standard about this topic (not Eddyk's drugged Avatar....The re-design of Britains coins)!

Luckily I was able to express an opinion based on my own thoughts and some of yours in here! He thought the Britannia thing was very interesting as I mentioned the legendary godess like figure had been on British coins since 1672, and previously under Emperor Hadrian etc. I also mentioned our arguments for killing off the 1p and the slightly contoversial "Why not just sumbit the Euro reverses". He said that would probably be a sure way of getting the country to accept the Euro.

So, I don't know if I'll get a mention, or when, but it might be an idea to grab a copy of the London Evening Standard today, if your locality allows (I'll be in the 'Letters' section, if at all).

[Emperor Oli]

So, I don't know if I'll get a mention, or when, but it might be an idea to grab a copy of the London Evening Standard today, if your locality allows (I'll be in the 'Letters' section, if at all).

Jon can scan it for us

[krasnaya_vityaz]

Some designs worthy of the new coinage:

1. The reverse design of the EdwVII florins.

2. The wren from the farthing.

3. The Golden Hind from the Halfpenny

4. Brittannia from the early QV Pennies.

5. Brittannia from the 1998 1 Oz silver bullion coins.

Designs that need to go:

1. The portcullis, I think of a prison when I see that.

2. Prince of Wales arms.

[Sylvester]

Designs that need to go;

1. The portcullis, I think of a prison when I see that.

An American once wanted a coin describing, it had a crowned trellis with curly vines growing up the sides.

Amusing me though.

[Guest Cool Phil]

Redesigning the coins sounds a good idea, but i hope they keep a Britannia Figure for the 50p coin - perhaps one of the silver or gold bullion examples.

Also why is the 20p being excluded? I know the £1 has new designs nearly every year and the £2 is fairly new.

In regard to the 1p, its still not an absolete form of coin as its often used to form 'penny jars', that accounts for its survival in America.

[Guest Cool Phil]

Just to mention i think the '2005 sovereign design' of st. and the dragon should be used on the 10p coin!

[Sylvester]

I think they are redesigning the 20p. The wording is appalling. I re-read it after i stated they weren't redesigning the 20p on another forum. I was told to read it again more closely.

They don't actually state they're not doing the 20p.