‘Far from a mint idea’ - Chancellor to unveil commemorative Brexit coin
A new coin to mark Brexit is to be announced by the chancellor in his budget (Photograph: Treasury) - Credit: Archant
Phillip Hammond is set to announce plans for a special 50 pence coin to commemorate Brexit in his latest budget.
The move is intended to appease Brexiteers who have been campaigning for a stamp, bank holiday or coin to acknowledge Britain's departure from the European Union. This would in addition to a return of blue passports and May's recent announcement of a 'festival of Brexit Britain'.
According to The Sun it will be available from when Britain is due to leave the EU on 31 March 2019 at 11pm.
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The coin itself does not reference Brexit but instead references the date of departure, and Britain's relationship with the world as a whole. It is expected to be branded with a message that partially quotes Thomas Jefferson. It will say 'friendship with all nations.'
A source close to Hammond said: 'It's an historic moment which will rightly be commemorated.'
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Twitter users joked that the new 50p coin could look a lot like a £1 coin due to its falling value since Brexit.
Best for Britain chief Eloise Todd said: 'Initiatives like this coin launch are designed to try and give the false impression that Brexit is a foregone conclusion. The people of this country want and deserve the final say on the deal, and politicians must pledge to give it to us without delay.'
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Earlier this year Leavers attempted to create their own Brexit coin to sell on eBay. It included a map of Britain under the motto 'Never Give Our Sovereignty Away Again'.
Unfortunately the tails side included the message 'I Voted To Get Back Our Sovereign Independance' complete with a French spelling of the final word.
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