Has the ‘fake-proof ’ £1 been forged already?
It is supposed to be near impossible to counterfeit. But a charity worker says he has already found a fake version of the new £1.
the 12-sided coin has been in circulation for less than a month and the Royal Mint claims it is the most secure in the world.
But the charity worker, a 48year-old man who has asked not to be named, says his partner was given the fake in her change on Friday. He claims the coin came from a Co-op in Addlestone, Surrey, and clearly differs from a genuine £1.
It is heavier, the Queen’s head is shifted slightly down and to the left and the edge is more rounded. the micro lettering on the interior of the rim, which should read ONE POUND, is indistinct. It does not have the latent image – a hologram-like feature – which shows a £ symbol or the number 1 depending on how it catches the light. And there is no detail on the thistle head on the reverse.
It is stamped 2016, as are most genuine new £1 coins as they were minted last year in preparation for their release.
‘If I’ve just found one, how many are there in circulation already?’ the man said. ‘It’s quite worrying. It’s supposed to be the impossible coin.’
He said he thought the coin looked strange as he picked it up. ‘I compared it against three normal £1 coins and realised it was completely different. there are a lot of things wrong with it It has a different thickness and a different colour. there is no detail of the head of the thistle – it’s just a blob.’
Hundreds of trial pounds were given to retailers to help prepare coin machines ahead of the March 28 release. Although not legal tender, they are fetching high prices on eBay.
the new pounds were introduced amid reports that one in every 30 old £1 coins in circulation were forgeries.
Genuine new coins have a secret security feature designed to protect against counterfeiting. the old coins will cease to be legal tender on October 15.
the Royal Mint did not respond for a request to comment on the fake coin last night.