26 January 2020
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Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid, has unveiled the first images of the Brexit coin, a 50p bearing the inscription ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations’ and the date the UK leaves the EU.
A Brexit 50p is finally set to be released, after a number of false starts and the reported destruction and melting down of around one million coins bearing the originally intended date of the UK's departure from the EU.
Around 3 million Brexit coins will enter banks, Post Offices and shops nationwide from Friday 31 January, with a further 7 million entering circulation later this year. As part of the launch, the Royal Mint will also open its doors for 24 hours to let people strike their own commemorative coins.
Commenting after seeing the coin for the first time, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid said: 'Leaving the European Union is a turning point in our history and this coin marks the beginning of this new chapter.'
However, as with most things 'Brexit' the coin has split opinion, with many commentators criticising the design and message, and the idea of issuing a commemorative piece to celebrate the country's departure. Some have said they will not use the coin, whilst others have suggested all Brexit 50p coins should be donated to charity in a bid to keep them out of circulation.
Read some of the comments on the 50p coin below…
The 'Brexit' 50p coin is missing an Oxford comma, and should be boycotted by all literate people.
— Philip Pullman (@PhilipPullman) January 26, 2020
📣Let us know if you find a Brexit coin this week!
— HM Treasury (@hmtreasury) January 26, 2020
Around 3 million will enter banks, Post Offices & shops from Friday 31.
They bear the words ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations’.https://t.co/pvRnXik659 pic.twitter.com/SshJ2H2CAm
Hey, @sajidjavid! I found a far more appropriate quote for your new #Brexit50p, so I've fixed it for you. pic.twitter.com/HAADuyH3hm
— Jonathan Emmett 📚 (@scribblestreet) January 26, 2020
I’m donating any #Brexit50p coins I receive to charities designed to stop hate & racism.
— Anita Sethi (@anitasethi) January 26, 2020
There are 10 million #Brexit50p coins being minted.
If we all did the same we could raise £5 million to combat the rising hate & racism #Brexit has unleashed.https://t.co/WJRQwZgqQF
