The Brexit 50p coin is a commemorative fifty-pence British coin that was originally struck to mark the planned withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 31 October 2019. The minting of the Brexit coin was ordered by Sajid Javid.[1] A total of 10 million Brexit coins, each stamped with the date 31 October 2019, were planned to be minted.[2][3] In late October 2019, with increasing doubts that Brexit would actually happen on that date, the minting of the coins was "paused".[4]
In late October 2019 it was announced that the coins would be recycled as the United Kingdom would not in fact leave the European Union as planned on 31 October 2019.[5][6] A Treasury spokesman said that a coin to mark Brexit will still be produced but that it would enter circulation after the UK has left the EU.[5][6]
Relaunch
editIn December 2019 a new Brexit 50p coin was announced after the Conservative Party victory in the general election.[7] Gold and silver versions of the coins were announced for collectors.[7] In January 2020 Downing Street announced that the coins would start entering circulation on 31 January 2020.[8]
The coin is inscribed with the slogan "Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations", inspired by Thomas Jefferson's first presidential inaugural address. The quotation proved controversial for non-Brexit-related reasons, such as the lack of an Oxford comma, over which Philip Pullman called for a boycott of the coin.[9]
References
edit- ^ Inman, Phillip (25 October 2019). "Production of Brexit 50p coin paused amid exit uncertainty". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Sajid Javid's plan to flood tills with Brexit 50p coins". The Guardian. Press Association. 11 August 2019. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Hope, Christopher (7 October 2019). "More than 10 million Brexit 50p coins to be minted - three times more than previously thought". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Brexit coins 'paused' amid uncertainty". 25 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Brexit 50p coins to be 'recycled' after PM accepts extension". BBC News. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ a b Inman, Phillip (29 October 2019). "Brexit meltdown: 50p coins with 31 October date to be recycled". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ a b Waterson, Jim (20 December 2019). "All change: UK tries again with new 50p to mark Brexit date". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ Helm, Toby (26 January 2020). "Brexit: Heseltine says celebrations rub remainers' noses in it". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ "Philip Pullman calls for boycott of Brexit 50p coin over 'missing' Oxford comma". The Guardian. 27 January 2020.
External links
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