Frequently Asked Questions
To provide you with additional information on the new coin designs we have put together a selection of responses to the questions you may have. If you are unable to find an answer to your question in this section please contact us directly by telephone or email and we will be pleased to assist you.
Contact Us
Telephone Order line: 0845 6088 222
Enquiry line: 0845 60 88 300
Press enquires: 020 7255 5478
Corporate enquires: 01443 222111
Please note our telephone lines are open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4pm Friday (GMT).
Email
If you would like to contact the Royal Mint by email please use our email enquiry form.
Post
The Royal Mint
Po Box 500
Pontyclun
CF72 8YT
Why have the designs changed?
The reverses of seven coins have been redesigned to renew and reinvigorate the United Kingdom's coinage because it has been almost 40 years since most of the standard designs currently in use were introduced. This is an unusually long period of time for a series of coins to remain unchanged and you would need to go back as far as 1887 to find a series of reverses which has lasted as long. While the current designs have served their purpose well, it is hoped that the new series will better reflect contemporary Britain.
How often are coins redesigned?
There is no fixed period for the length of time that a design is used on the coinage. It has been almost 40 years since most of the standard designs currently in use were introduced which is an unusually long period of time for a series of coins to remain unchanged. The new series of designs renews and reinvigorates the British coinage and it was felt the time was now right to make the change.
Who chose the new designs?
All of the 4,000 submitted designs were inspected by the
Royal Mint Advisory Committee before its preferred design was recommended to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his capacity as Master of the Mint and finally approved by Her Majesty The Queen. Through a process of short listing and many revisions, a series by a designer previously unknown to the Royal Mint was ultimately selected and given royal approval.
Who designed the coins?
Matthew Dent 26, was chosen as the winning designer. Originally from Bangor in North Wales, Matthew now lives and works in London as a graphic designer.
How were the designs chosen?
An open competition to find designs for six of the United Kingdom's eight circulating coins was launched on 17 August 2005 by the Royal Mint. The competition was open to members of the public who competed alongside specially invited artists and members of the Royal Mint Engraving Department. The £1 coin and £2 coin were initially not included in the brief as these are relatively new additions to the United Kingdom's coinage. However, the £1 was later added to complete the winning set of designs that were submitted.
What do the designs represent?
The designs were chosen to reflect contemporary Britain, as well as its heritage. The new designs take a traditional theme that reflects the nation's rich heritage, including our historic national and heraldic emblems, and treats it in an innovative and contemporary way. Individually the coins focus on details of the Shield of the Royal Arms and when placed together they reveal the complete shield.
What will happen to the current coin designs?
The current coin designs will remain in circulation and as legal tender for the foreseeable future. They will continue to circulate alongside the new coins.
When will people actually have the coins in their pockets?
It is normal practice for banks to order coins from the Royal Mint to satisfy public demand, which fluctuates over the course of the year. Therefore it is not possible to give an exact time when the coin's will appear in peoples pockets.
|