First black people to feature on coins
Chancellor keen on plan to honour ethnic minority heroes as Royal Mint asked to come up with designs
BLACK and ethnic minority people are set to feature on money for the first time, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose.
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, is looking at proposals by a campaign group to put influential BAME figures from throughout history on a set of coins, a Treasury minister said.
A non-white person has never featured on coins or notes, and the Banknotes of Colour campaign, led by Zehra Zaidi, a former Conservative Party parliamentary candidate, has been fighting for representation. Historical figures under consideration include the first Indian and Gurkha soldiers to receive the Victoria Cross; Mary Seacole, the Crimean War nurse; and Noor Inayat Khan, a Second World War agent and one of only four women to have received the George Cross.
The plans have been submitted to the Royal Mint, which has been encouraged by the Treasury to come up with proposals and designs for potential coins.
John Glen, the Treasury minister, said Mr Sunak was “keen to support” the “timely proposal”.
He said: “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.” Mr Sunak has previously expressed support for the anti-racist cause. He said: “As a British Asian of course I know that racism exists in this country. And I know people are angry and frustrated. They want to see, and feel, change.
“But a better society doesn’t happen overnight – like all great acts of creation, it happens slowly and depends on the co-operation of each of us toward that common goal.”
Ms Zaidi said in a letter to the Chancellor: “We propose a specific next theme of service to the nation by Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority people, both in military conflict and on the home front.
“This theme will unite people, especially now as the nation has come together through the pandemic, and is collectively recognising the heroic work by ethnic minority staff in our health and care services.” Ms Zaidi was previously behind a campaign to get the Bank of England to select a person of colour for the £50 note, proposing Seacole or Khan. However, this failed and Alan Turing, the computer pioneer, was chosen instead.
Her current campaign is supported by historians and MPs including Conservative Tom Tugendhat and the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas.
Mr Tugendhat said: “For hundreds of years people from around the world have played a part in our nation’s history. Reformers, soldiers, writers, activists and carers have shaped our communities and lives. It’s right that we celebrate all those who were so important, from the sailors on HMS Victory to the many I served with.”
Kate Williams, a historian and broadcaster, said: “Representation matters. This is a multicultural country and people from all over the world have come here and contributed. Yet our commemorative items show elite white men. Not only is this a lie about history but it sends a very negative message to those of colour who come here. Change is long overdue.”
Professor Sunny Singh, academic, writer and founder of the Jhalak Prize, said in support of the campaign: “There is no better way to acknowledge the history of Britain in the world than to include a high-achieving Briton of colour on our legal tender. Such an action honours British history at home and of the Empire.”
The Royal Mint did not respond to a request for comment.
‘This theme will unite people, especially now as the nation has come together through the pandemic’