Britain puts new pound coin into circulation

Britain’s new 1 pound coin with the symbols of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland goes into circulation from Tuesday on the eve of the launch of a Brexit process that has put national unity in doubt.

The 12- sided coin is the first change to the shape of the pound coin since its introduction in 1983. Britain’s finance ministry said the new coin would be “the most secure of its kind in the world” to prevent a rise in counterfeits. About 3 percent of the current roundshaped coins are fakes.

The new coins are thinner, lighter and slightly bigger, and have a hologram- like image that changes from a “£” symbol to the number “1” when viewed from different angles.

“Staying ahead of sophisticated counterfeiters remains a constant challenge and this coin helps in that battle,” said Adam Lawrence, head of the Royal Mint, which is producing around 1.5 billion new coins.

The new bimetallic coin has the same shape as the popular old “Threepenny bit” that was introduced in 1937 and went out with decimalization in 1971.

Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait is on one side, while England’s rose, Scotland’s thistle, Wales’s leek and Northern Ireland’s shamrock will be on the other side, held in a crown.

The old coins cease to be legal tender on October 15.

Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday is set to formally notify the EU of Britain’s intention to leave the bloc.