We’re five days out from the UK’s departure from the EU (for real this time), and preparations for the celebration are well underway.
On
Brexit day itself, January 31, millions of commemorative 50p coins bearing the inscription “peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations” will be put into general circulation in the UK.
Chancellor Sajid Javid officially unveiled the new coin on Sunday, stating: “Leaving the
European Union is a turning point in our history and this coin marks the beginning of this new chapter.” As with the withdrawal agreement negotiations themselves, the process of actually producing the coins hasn’t exactly been plain sailing.
Javid originally ordered production of the 50p coins in advance of the original departure date of October 31, but that didn’t exactly go to plan.
The eleventh-hour delay meant that around a million coins, which had already been produced and stamped with the October date, had to be melted down and the metal put aside until a new exit day had been confirmed.
The new coins now bear the January 31 date, and this time it’s pretty unlikely they’ll have to be melted down once again.
About three million of the coins will enter circulation around the
UK from Friday, with a further seven million to be added later in the year.
Javid, who is Master of the Mint, was given the first batch of coins, and will present one to
Boris Johnson this week.
As part of the launch of the coin, the Royal Mint will open its doors for 24 hours to let people strike their own commemorative Brexit coins.
The official reveal of the join hasn’t exactly been met with universal celebration – with many stating online that they’ll refuse to use them, save them to spend on European holidays, or donate them to charity. Anyone gives me one of these and I'll refuse to take it, because I'll hock them I to the river.Fuck Brexit.BBC News - Brexit day 50p coin unveiled by Chancellor Sajid Javid https://t.co/T36Cq00Ft5— Chrissy Butterfly (@chrissy_bea) January 26, 2020If I get any of these I shall ensure they go directly into the savings jar for our holiday spending money. So that they are spent in Spain. Purely symbolic I know, but fuck you brexiters. https://t.co/n1giKwecHA— Jodie Sampson🏳️🌈 (@jodie_sampson) January 26, 2020Brexit 50p coinWhy don't we agree that if we get one in our change we put it straight in a charity box.A protest that has impact.#BREXIT50pCharityBox— Alan Stedman 🇪🇺🇬🇧#RejoinEU#FBPE (@alanjstedman) January 26, 2020The European Parliament is expected to vote to approve the Withdrawal Agreement on Wednesday, after the PM signed the treaty paving the way for the UK to leave on January 31.Related... Michelin-Starred Chef ‘Refused Permission To Stay In UK After Brexit’ EU Warns Boris Johnson He Must Impose
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