The £1 coin has been criticised for years because of how easy it is to replicate and use for fraudulent activities. As a result, it is due to have its design completely revamped. The public were asked to submit design ideas for the new coin, and the winner was 15 year old David Pearce. His design will be featured on the new coins, set for release at some point during 2017.

The winning design, featuring a shamrock, thistle, rose and leek, was slightly refined by coin artist David Lawrence, with assistance from lettering expert Stephen Raw. The symbols included on the coin are intended to represent each of the four countries in the UK. The new design involves a bi-metallic construction, which is extremely difficult to replicate, making it harder for fraudulent activity to take place. This will be the first time in more than 30 years that a coin has been redesigned because of its vulnerability. It has the same shape as an old 12-sided three piece pence and it is thought it will be one of the most secure coins in circulation, thanks to the Royal Mint’s state of the art anti-counterfeit technology.

This news story highlights the importance of design on coins, and how they can be used to combat criminal activity. There are many examples of interesting coin designs, and we stock many beautiful gold and silver coins in our online store, including commemorative coins which were issued to mark special events. If you are looking to make an investment to keep your money safe for the future, or wish to purchase a beautiful collector’s item, just take a look at the coins we have available for sale. We also have gold and silver bars, and other types of bullion suitable for all investors regardless of their budget.