Ethnic heroes’ faces may go on coins
BLACK and ethnic minority people could appear on our currency for the first time.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering a plan to put on a set of coins Crimean War nurse Mary Seacole and wartime spy heroine Noor Inayat Khan.
Also to feature could be First World War Victoria Cross winners Khudadad Khan from India and Gurkha Kulbir Thapa – who has appeared on a stamp – as well as Walter Tull, Britain’s first outfield black footballer who was killed in action as an officer in 1918.
The Treasury has encouraged The Royal Mint to draw up draft designs, with Mr Sunak “keen to support” the “timely proposal” from the Banknotes of Colour campaign, led by Zehra Zaidi.
Treasury minister John Glen added: “The Chancellor is aware of this. We are obviously supportive and keen to be positive about it, we need to see some firm proposals from the Royal Mint but we are keen for this to happen.”
Ms Zaidi, a former Tory parliamentary candidate, previously campaigned for Kahn or Seacole to feature on the Bank of England’s new £50 note but computer pioneer Alan Turing was chosen instead. Now her latest cause has the backing of several historians and MPs.
In an open letter to Mr Sunak, Ms Zaidi said the move would help unite the nation and recognise “the heroic work by ethnic minority staff in our health and care services” during the pandemic. She added: “Symbols matter and we urge you to support our campaign.”
Historian Kate Williams said: “Representation matters. This is a multicultural country and people from all over the world have come here and contributed.”