New 10p coins will pay tribute to best of British

Bond, Nessie, NHS and queuing among 26 designs unveiled by the Royal Mint

James Bond, fish and chips, an English breakfast, Nessie and even queuing are celebrated in a new collection of “quintessentially British” 10p coins.

The collection of 26 new 10p designs, unveiled by the Royal Mint, is intended as an A to Z of what makes Britain great – from oak trees to a zebra crossing.

The English breakfast coin depicts a fried egg, bacon, sausages, tomato and beans, while the Bond coin says: “007”.

Stonehenge, a double decker bus, the NHS and the Houses of Parliament are also celebrated in the collection, which is released into general circulation from Thursday alongside collectors’ versions available from the Royal Mint website.

The Royal Mint also has a “great British coin hunt” app, allowing coin hunters to create a digital collection of the coins they find in their change.

Users can download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play, to scan the coin with their camera. They can also link the app to their social media to share what they find.

There is also a heat map within the app, showing where different coins are being found and directing them to swap shops where they can trade them.

Anne Jessopp, chief executive at the Royal Mint, said: “These designs represent a diverse mix of elements that make up the country we all love.

“There is a lot to be proud of in the UK – whether it’s at the highest level, our Houses of Parliament, technological advancements such as Tim BernersLee’s world wide web, or just a good cup of tea, it’s all here in the designs.”

More information can be found at www.royalmint/coinhunt.