The British Royal Mint has announced an open competition to find designs for six of the United Kingdom’s eight circulating coins. The announcement indicates that the UK will not be joining the euro currency union in the near future.
With the exception of the 20p, first issued in 1982, the reverse designs of British coins from 1p to 50p were chosen in the late 1960s at the time of decimalization.
Members of the public and experienced artists are invited to make their mark on history by coming up with the new designs for the reverse of the coins. There is nothing in the design brief that excludes entries coming from North America.
The design brief gives would-be designers a “free hand,” but encourages interpreting heraldry in an “imaginative and creative way” for a modern coinage. It also suggests considering strong British themes of flora or fauna, geography, social, political or cultural achievements or British institutions.
Gerald Sheehan, chief executive of the BRM, said the competition is a way of making sure that the mint has the widest possible input into new designs.
Anyone interested in the competition can obtain an information pack by writing The Coin Design Competition, Museum, Royal Mint, Llantrisant, Pontyclun, CF72 8YT England; or via the Web at www.royalmint .com. The competition will be closed Nov. 15.
