2017-03-10 Fri

More than 6,000 entries were submitted during the public competition that was held in 2014 to design UK’s new bimetallic 12-sided £1 coin. Finally, the wait is over and the latest coins will be released on 28th March. This has been the biggest change that UK’s Coinage has witnessed in 30 years. Commemorative versions in gold Proof, silver Proof and platinum Proof, as well as Brilliant Uncirculated ‘mint condition’, are available.

15-year-old David Pearce won the contest who interpreted traditional floral emblems in a unique way. The design features a Welsh leek, the Scottish thistle, the Northern Irish shamrock and the English rose coming out of a royal coronet.

The designs not only needed to represent UK’s culture but also had to be fresh, imaginative and well-balanced. Chief Engraver Gordon Summers stated that the coin is the right mix of heritage and innovation; art and engineering.

Modern security features of the 12-sided £1 coin include micro-lettering and a latent feature created using computer-aided design technology. Its unique shape and bimetallic composition are aimed at keeping a tab on counterfeiting activities. The Royal Mint’s patented "High Security Feature" on the coin makes it the most secure one in the world.