People are being urged to check their pockets after two 50p Brexit coins minted with the wrong exit date were discovered. Originally produced to commemorate the planned Brexit day of October 31, 2019, these special coins were thought to have been melted down and recycled following Parliament's decision to extend the departure date.
It was believed around one million of the unique coins were destroyed, but miraculously, two of them have now resurfaced, with numismatic experts estimating their worth at over £40,000. Gregory Edmund, a numismatic specialist from Spink & Son auction house, commented on the remarkable find. “Ever since the official London Gazette notice for the 2019 Brexit 50 pence has existed, I have wondered if survivors of the one million cancelled coins would one day surface,” he told The Telegraph.
Edmund described the moment of finding the coins as akin to discovering “Charlie Bucket moment discovering the numismatic Golden Ticket.” His excitement reflects the rarity of the coins, especially considering the stringent security measures employed by the Royal Mint, making their survival even more remarkable.
Initially, along with the October deadline pieces, there were also trial coins minted to mark the original Brexit date of March 29, 2019. Those, too, were scrapped when the exit date was missed. The coins were melted down to produce new “gold, silver, and cupro-nickel coins” reflecting the updated exit date of January 31, 2020.
Now, the two October deadline coins handed to Spink & Son are believed to be the sole survivors known to be circulating, though the Royal Mint has not officially confirmed their validity. If placed at auction, Edmund predicts they could fetch more than £40,000, leading him to set up a hotline for anyone who might find another rare coin.
The Brexit coins initially sparked political controversy, but they raised eyebrows for another reason as well. The coins, which feature the inscription "Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations,” faced backlash from some writers, with author Sir Philip Pullman leading the charge against their design.
Pullman called for the coins to be boycotted due to what he highlighted as the absence of the Oxford comma before 'and friendship.' He tweeted, “The omission meant the coin should be boycotted by all literate people,” reflecting concerns about attention to detail even within such symbolic representations of national events.
While the political ramifications of Brexit continue to evolve, this quirky tale of numismatic survival adds another layer to the saga, drawing the public’s attention not just to history but also to the value—both sentimental and monetary—of apparently mundane items. Considering their background and the stories surrounding them, these coins certainly resonate with many people eager to engage with the Brexit narrative.
Many would compare the significance of the coins to artifacts from other historical shifts, making them more than just currency; they're tangible reminders of pivotal moments. Their potential appearance at auction will certainly stir interest, not only for coin collectors but for those captivated by the dynamics of Britain's exit from the European Union.
So, whether you're rummaging through your change jar or checking your pockets now, there may be more than just loose change waiting to be found. The discovery of these rare coins serves as both a reminder of the past and the continuing impact of Brexit on everyday life.