The E-Sylum:  Volume 11, Number 16, April 20, 2008, Article 17

COMMENTS ON ELIMINATING THE UK PENNY

Kerry Rodgers writes: "Among the comments on the latest
Royal Mint's new reverse coin designs was one from Dave
Lange. He wrote 'There has been talk for years of eliminating
the UK penny, so where will its portion of the design go?'

"As far as I can establish the 'talk for years' has been
purely in the mainstream media. I would be happy to be
disabused if this has some basis in reality.

"I have copies of a number of articles predicting the demise
of the penny. They span a decade. The all come from British
newspapers. They are all purely speculative.  The info in
each is exactly the same as are the arguments, only the by-lines
change from article to article.  The story is one of many that
seems to be trotted out whenever there is a slow news day or
the silly season has arrived in the Britain.

On each occasion the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a
spokesperson for the Treasury and another from the Royal
Mint make statements that this is all news to them. On the
last occasion some twelve months back the Mint stated that
as far as they were concerned they had a new penny design
on the drawing boards - and so it has come to pass.

"I think as numismaniacs we need to be Very Careful in
citing media speculation as if it had some factual basis,
let alone quoting it at a once and future date, far removed
from its original silly season context. If and when the
penny goeth, let's report that.  It will be an historic
occasion.  Until then can we ignore the idle gossip from
edia hacks."

 COMMENTS ON THE ROYAL MINT'S NEW CIRCULATING COIN REVERSE DESIGNS
 esylum_v11n15a13.html

[The April 21, 2008 issue of Coin World has a number of nice
articles on the new coin designs.  In one of them, John Andrew
interviews the designer, 26-year-old Matthew Dent and illustrates
Dent's original design sketch, which went through sixteen revisions
before final acceptance.   Of note to bibliophiles, Andrew's
article concludes with this statement: "A book on the redesign
of the United Kingdom's coinage will be published in the autumn
and there will also be an exhibition on the design process at
the British Museum."  -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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