Treasury halts production of 50p Brexit coins
The Treasury has stopped production of thousands of commemorative Brexit coins over continuing doubts as to when the UK will leave the EU.
A Treasury spokesman said: “We have paused production of the Brexit coin, and will take a final decision in due course.”
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The new 50p pieces were due to be emblazoned with the October 31 leaving date and the message “Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations.”
Chancellor Sajid Javid had asked for three million of the coins to be in circulation and ready for 31 October, with a further seven million to be released within a year, but the government’s loss of a key vote has made the Halloween departure date look increasingly unlikely.
The coins had become one of the Chancellor’s pet projects, ramping up predecessor Philip Hammond’s plans for a limited edition of 10,000 coins, which would be sold to collectors for £10 each.
Instead, plans were made for three different types of coin, made of gold, silver and a nickel-copper alloy. The gold coins were not intended to enter circulation.
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The project was approved by the Queen at a recent meeting of the Privy Council, which was attended by Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the House of Commons.
The Royal Mint refused to comment on the fate of the coins, saying that the information was “commercially sensitive.”
Main image credit – Getty