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Bye-bye Britannia... here is the new look for our coins
Last updated at 03:22am on 03.04.08As ever, the Queen remains a fixture in a world of change.
And yesterday, as the Royal Mint unveiled a very modern makeover of the nation's coins, her image was just about the only element to survive.
The revamp of our small change means goodbye to Britannia on the 50p and to all the other symbols – such as lion, thistle and portcullis – which have become so familiar over the last 40 years.
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Minted: Matthew Dent holds copies of the coins he designed that feature the royal coat of arms
In their place on the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p and £1 are a bold set of designs based on the Queen's coat of arms. The reverse of the new £1 shows the full coat, and each of the smaller denominations depict close-up segments which, when fitted together, form the shield as a whole.
The £2 coin has not been redesigned.
The biggest change in coinage since the 1968 revamp in the run-up to decimalisation in 1971 was dreamed up by graphic design graduate Matt Dent.
Working on the kitchen table of the one-bedroom flat in London he shares with his girlfriend Diana, he sketched on paper his entry to the public competition to create the next generation of coins.
He had never designed a coin before and had only recently returned from a gap year travelling around Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Dent, who grew up in Bangor, North Wales, said the competition had also fascinated his parents.
He added: "They were quite captivated by what I was doing and had their own ideas for the design – which of course I ignored."
Mr Dent, who studied at Coleg Menai in Bangor and Brighton University, went on beat 4,000 other entrants, won £5,000 for each of his seven designs, and collected a cheque for £35,000.
He will not, however, receive any royalties from the reproduction of his ideas on the billions of coins to be minted in the years to come.
But, at 26, he has become the youngest person to design the nation's currency.
Yesterday, at the unveiling of his designs at a ceremony at the Tower of London, he said: "It is an honour, very much a privilege to be part of British coin history.
"I'm looking forward to them entering circulation and entering people's lives. I can't wait to see people using them."
The seven new coins, which were personally approved by the Prime Minister and the Queen, will appear gradually from today, joining the 27billion coins in circulation which will continue to be legal tender.
The scrapping of Britannia – a permanent presence on the tails side of British coins for more than 300 years – has dismayed traditionalists, including Conservative leader David Cameron who has pledged a Tory government would reverse the decision.
Other critics attacked the fragmented aspect of the new designs, pointing out that the 20p, for example, is now mainly an image of the rear end of a lion.
Yesterday the Royal Mint's chief executive, Andrew Stafford, brushed aside the concerns, saying: "Britannia is still on 800million coins in circulation so will continue to be in people's pockets for years to come.
"The new coins are contemporary yet retain the gravitas and reference to history required for the United Kingdom's coins."
Sir Christopher Frayling, the chairman of the committee which chose the designs, insisted they were not "washing away the heritage of Britain" but instead bringing ancient heraldry into a modern focus.
He added: "It is a family of coins for the first time. It is a single, simple design, direct and without fuss.
"I think this design will be a classic. Matt Dent has written himself into a story that goes back thousands of years."
Beyond her official sanction, the Queen's views have not been publicly disclosed.
But one courtier reported that she was "quite satisfied" with the coins.
But last night art critic Brian Sewell said: "It's pretty much like the new logo for the Olympics – somebody being too clever by half.
"Unless it is absolutely necessary to change the design of something so central to everybody, you should leave it well alone.
"What is wrong with the current lot of coins?"
Reader views (14)
This is disgraceful, the Britannia is a symbol of unity strength pride and he only true British thing we seemed to have left today but brown couldn't resist changing that could he? I agree its far better than the Euro but the loss of Britannia is truely disheartening, and also where is a symbol of Wales on any of the coins? I agree with "One wouldn't break up Her majesty's face and spread it out over six coins, so why do so with what should be the sacred arms?
- Chris, Penistone
Interesting - illustrates how much the value of our currency is fragmented these days. Still, at least we're not issuing Euros - thank goodness.
- Tony, Potters Bar, Herts
Once again a minority disconnected from the people makes a decision impacting on everyone, in this case something so integral as our national consciousness. The sum of all parts did impress me (I quite like the stylised Irish harp) but note the Royal Mint did not bother to show each coin in isolation. Imagine an outsider comparing the 20p with 20 cents and wondering "What the hell is this?" One wouldn't break up Her majesty's face and spread it out over six coins, so why do so with what should be the sacred arms?
- Keir, Beijing, China
Is there any chance this could be an April fools joke? Please tell me it is.
- Tom, Wickford, Essex.
I think they are great and very artistic. He entered a public competition, he didn't just take it upon himself to design the new coins, why can't people just be pleased for him!!
- Sammie Nm, Chelt, Glos.
I like the pound, it looks a bit like a 1960's half-crown (2s 6d was 12.5 pence in today's money). There were eight to a pound then, so the spending power is about right.
Only the Scottish lion is complete, I wonder if Messrs Brown & Darling had something to do with that? It has however been demoted from 10p to 2p.
England's lions have been butchered and the Irish harp smashed to pieces. Wales doesn't get a look in at all. No crown, portcullis and chains on the penny. Does this mean that the Westminster parliament no longer matters?
I am surprised that the large numerals have been ditched. These were a help to anyone unfamiliar with our coinage.
Overall impression - could have been worse. They could make up for the lot by putting Britannia, complete with lighthouse, on the £2 coin.
- Leon, London
More unnecessary costs. Seems a high powered individual wanted to lash out on something that should have been shelved at this time of cut-backs.
- Tony, London E11
I assume the dies will need replacing for producing coins so why not change the design every now and then. It's not like they change every week.
The new designs are fine and at least it was chosen through a competition, rather than some MP paying his student children tax-payers cash to design them. The guy that designed hem gets recognition for his work before he even starts his career. Good on him.
- Ben, London
The new provincial coinage is being introduced to coincide with the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and the death of the U.K. as a country. Welcome to the new U.K. province. As of 1 January 2009, if all goes according to plan in Brussels, British, French, German, etc. nationalities all change to European nationality. The EU is our new country, and the country called the U.K. dies after 301 years. Watch for big, big changes in 2009! If only the British had stood up for their country in the way that so many brave men and women have in the past!
- Phil Jones, London UK
They're not bad I guess, but they should make a completely new coin, like 99p coin, and £5 coin but overall the new coins are nice but I m going to miss the old ones, what about the £2 coin?
- James, Birmingham England
Not much to choose between this and the awful Olympics logo for the worst designs in Britain award. Comforting to know that these efforts will receive the maximum coverage possible, so that everyone can share in their mediocrity.
- Bongo, London
This seems to have been a classic case of fixing something that wasn't broken. I wasn't aware of a groundswell of public unease with the existing designs. As for the new designs themselves, I suppose we'll get used to them, but I think the idea of fragmenting the coat of arms like this is barmy - and anyway, shouldn't it include the crown?
- John Michael, Eastbourne, UK
Who cares about the new design! The bottom line is, if the new coins are going to get exactly the same amount of goods per unit as the old ones did it doesn't matter.
However, if the new coins where going to get us TWICE as much, EVERYBODY would be interested.
- Sam, Lewisham
The idea of these new designs is to "renewing and reinvigorating" the UK's coinage, isn't this just (forgive the pun) but change for changes sake. Why would the coinage/currency need reinvigorating, its not as if its going to go out of fashion and people are going to say "I'm not using that £2 coin because its old fashioned".
- Steven, London, UK
