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Brexit 50p coin

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The Brexit 50p coin is a commemorative 50p coin that was struck to mark the planned exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union ("Brexit") on 31 October 2019. The minting of the Brexit coin was ordered by Sajid Javid.[1] A total of 10 million Brexit coins, each stamped with the date 31 October 2019, were planned to be minted.[2][3] In late October 2019, with increasing doubts that Brexit would actually happen on that date, the minting of the coins was "paused".[4]

In late October 2019 it was announced that the coins would be recycled as the UK would not leave the EU on 31 October 2019.[5][6] A Treasury spokesman said that a coin to mark Brexit will still be produced but that it would enter circulation after the UK has left the EU.[5][6]

The coin is inscribed with a quote from Thomas Jefferson on it. This has proved controversial for non-Brexit-related reasons, such as the lack of an Oxford comma,[7] and because Jefferson owned slaves and fathered children with Sally Hemings, a woman enslaved to him, only freeing their children upon his death.[8][9]

Relaunch

In December 2019 a new Brexit 50p coin was announced after the Conservative Party victory in the general election.[10] Gold and silver versions of the coins were announced for collectors.[10] In January 2020 Downing Street announced that the coins would start entering circulation on 31 January 2020.[11]

References

  1. ^ Inman, Phillip (25 October 2019). "Production of Brexit 50p coin paused amid exit uncertainty". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  2. ^ Association, Press (11 August 2019). "Sajid Javid's plan to flood tills with Brexit 50p coins". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  3. ^ Hope, Christopher (7 October 2019). "More than 10 million Brexit 50p coins to be minted - three times more than previously thought". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Brexit coins 'paused' amid uncertainty". 25 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Brexit 50p coins to be 'recycled' after PM accepts extension". BBC News. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  6. ^ a b Inman, Phillip (29 October 2019). "Brexit meltdown: 50p coins with 31 October date to be recycled". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Philip Pullman calls for boycott of Brexit 50p coin over 'missing' Oxford comma". The Guardian. 27 January 2020.
  8. ^ Urwin, Caroline Wheeler and Rosamund. "Brexit 50p coins quote American founding father" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  9. ^ "Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: A Brief Account". Monticello.
  10. ^ a b Waterson, Jim (20 December 2019). "All change: UK tries again with new 50p to mark Brexit date". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  11. ^ Helm, Toby (26 January 2020). "Brexit: Heseltine says celebrations rub remainers' noses in it". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2020.


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