| Britain's New 2008 Coin Designs Ready |
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There are 3 sets that will commemorate the launch of coins that lead up "D Day" to Decimal Day on the 15th of February, 1971.
The new coins will have a new reverse design and will be minted from platinum and other metals.
"D Day" Decimal Day was established for February 15, 1971. The new 5p and 10p coins were issued back in April 1968: the former valued 1 shilling and the latter 2 shillings. Later, in October 1969 the 5p and 10p coins were followed by the 50p.
The 1/2p coin, which was withdrawn in December 1984, along with the 1p and 2p coins were not issued until the D Day itself. The 20p was not introduced into circulation until 1982. The £1 coin replaced the £1 bank note in 1983.
The designs for the 1/2p, 1p, 2p, 5p and 10p denominations were developed by Christopher Ironside. The North American collectors are aware of his talents, because Ironside was the one to work on heraldic themes. He was also the one to develop the design of the 50p coin, which featured Britannia.
The design for the 20p coin, issued in 1982, was developed by William Gardner. The crowned Tudor rose, created by Gardner, included many of the same heraldic features that were found on the first gold sovereign of Henry VII in 1489.
Eric Sewell, who worked as British Royal Mint's chief engraver, created the original design for the £1 coin. The design includes royal arms with lion and unicorn supporters. The Royal Mint looks forward to issue the new reverse design coins on late spring 2008. It has minted all 7 of the legal-tender coins, having denominations from 1p to £1. These were issued in 4 special "Emblems of Britain" collections, dated 2008, each having a different alloy.
All seven state-of-the-art coins were for the first time struck in platinum. There are only 250 pieces, made in .9995 fine platinum.
Coins from all 4 collections include the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of the queen. It is worth noting that this portrait is the queen's fourth that will appear on British coinage.
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