Shoppers must be given new pound coins only in change

CASHIERS should make sure consumers are only given new pound coins in their change, as part of efforts to phase out the old version, a minister has said.

The 12-sided £1 coin was brought into circulation in March, and the old round coin will cease to be legal tender from Oct 15. The Royal Mint has encouraged consumers to “spend, bank or donate” their old coins before that date.

Andrew Jones, the Treasury minister, has urged businesses to do their part to make sure shoppers are not given more of the old coins.

He said: “Businesses must remain vigilant when returning coins and ensure old and new coins are organised in separate packaging to make the sorting process quicker and easier.”

Shopkeepers must “play their part to ensure only new pound coins are given to shoppers in their change”, he said.

Mr Jones also warned about companies accidentally returning the new version of the coin rather than the old one, saying “businesses must remain vigilant”.

He said: “There has been a fantastic effort from both the public and businesses in returning more than one billion old round pounds, and I thank everybody involved in this process so far.

“But there is still more to do before the 15 October deadline.”

The new coin was brought in to tackle the problem of fakes. Approximately one in 30 of the old round £1 coins in circulation are counterfeit.

The 12-sided coin, with a gold coloured nickel-brass outer ring and silver-coloured nickel-plated alloy inner ring has been described as “the most secure in the world”.