Britain’s new coin with the symbols of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland goes into circulation from Tuesday on the eve of the launch of a Brexit process that has put national unity in doubt.
The 12-sided coin is the first change to the shape of the £1 coin since its introduction in 1983. Britain’s finance ministry said the new coin would be “the most secure of its kind in the world” to prevent a rise in counterfeits. About three percent of their current round-shaped coins are fakes.
The new bi-metallic coin has the same shape as the popular old “Threepenny bit” that was introduced in 1937 and went out with decimalisation in 1971.
What Britain’s new coin bears a sparkling resemblance to as well is Singapore’s own $1 coin — a similar bi-metallic version that was launched in 2013. The resemblance is uncanny, with the outer gold segment and a silver centre, with a polygonal frame. Despite looking like an octagon, our $1 coin is actually round in shape, while the new £1 coin actually has 12 sides.
Bi-metallic coins — the ones that are made with two different alloys — aren’t modern tech really. The concept appeared as early as 1625 during the reign of Charles I of England, when copper coins had brass wedges inserted as an anti-forgery device.
With text by AFP
