News this morning that we are getting a new pound coin. How exciting! Hang on a sec, this pound coin bears more than a passing resemblance to the old "Thupenny bit". Clearly that was before my time but I have held one and thought they reminded me of the 20p coin.
The Thupenny bit was one of the oldest national coins, 1st appearing in the 1550s, then disapering into the history books with decilmiation in 1971. You may find one down the back of your sofa, if your sofa is very old that is.
This new pound coin is due to be in our pockets in 2017 With its 12 edges and two different metals this is a nod to the past and a leap to the future. Its going to be the most secure coin in circulation, in the world . This is what we are being told anyway, but look at what they said about Titanic. No it will never sink, and guess what, yes it did!
The current pound coin was launced in 1983 when I was still in nappies. Figures suggest around 3 percent of £1 coins in circulation are in fact fake. This means that, out of 1.5 billion pound coins, (how long would it take you to count that lot,) 45 million are dodgy. So clearly the change in shape and use of two metals is aimed at squashing this coin counterfitting industry. I saw a picture of the old pound notes introduced in 1767. All I can say us thank god they didnt have photo copiers back then.
It must be a real game of cat and mouse for the guys at the Royal Mint. Coins get more sophisticated the crooks follow suit, we end up with all this forged currency out there. Is this new coin the answer? That remains to be seen. How much is it going to cost to switch over vending machine and so on? Will there be support for small buisnesses to change over to accept the new coins? Times are hard and I worry if a company has to find funds to modify vending machines it could send them under. Maybe I am being mellow deamatic here, but a concern non the less; seeing as the £1 coin is probably one of our most used.
Talking of coins and I have to say how much I hate those 5ps. far to small and fidley for my sausage fingers . As for 1ps and 2ps, well they seem pretty pointless dont' they? I have a bag for life filled with 1ps and 2ps. 10 years to collect that up. I keep meaning to take it to the bank but I can't lift it now. I do know, however when my pot of 5ps is full I can take it to the bank and it adds up to around £30. See, like they say look after the pennies and all that.
We live in an age where cashless payment is becoming common place. I still don't feel comfotable with this. What if the technology fails. I'm gonna be stuck somewhere with no access to my cash I guess we should be glad with this unveiling of our new pound coin, that they are still planning to make acual coins for now, but for how long I ask myself.
Finaly, a moral dilema for you. You get a coin in your change that you suspect is fake. What do you do? I would like to think you wouldnt try and pass it off to some dozey cashier in a petrol station shop, but I suspect thats exactly what you would do right? Talking of dozey cashiers, in my days at Tesco, I was on a till and noted the previous cashier had accepted a black and white photo copy of a £10 note. That certinaly fills me with confidence!
The Thupenny bit was one of the oldest national coins, 1st appearing in the 1550s, then disapering into the history books with decilmiation in 1971. You may find one down the back of your sofa, if your sofa is very old that is.
This new pound coin is due to be in our pockets in 2017 With its 12 edges and two different metals this is a nod to the past and a leap to the future. Its going to be the most secure coin in circulation, in the world . This is what we are being told anyway, but look at what they said about Titanic. No it will never sink, and guess what, yes it did!
The current pound coin was launced in 1983 when I was still in nappies. Figures suggest around 3 percent of £1 coins in circulation are in fact fake. This means that, out of 1.5 billion pound coins, (how long would it take you to count that lot,) 45 million are dodgy. So clearly the change in shape and use of two metals is aimed at squashing this coin counterfitting industry. I saw a picture of the old pound notes introduced in 1767. All I can say us thank god they didnt have photo copiers back then.
It must be a real game of cat and mouse for the guys at the Royal Mint. Coins get more sophisticated the crooks follow suit, we end up with all this forged currency out there. Is this new coin the answer? That remains to be seen. How much is it going to cost to switch over vending machine and so on? Will there be support for small buisnesses to change over to accept the new coins? Times are hard and I worry if a company has to find funds to modify vending machines it could send them under. Maybe I am being mellow deamatic here, but a concern non the less; seeing as the £1 coin is probably one of our most used.
Talking of coins and I have to say how much I hate those 5ps. far to small and fidley for my sausage fingers . As for 1ps and 2ps, well they seem pretty pointless dont' they? I have a bag for life filled with 1ps and 2ps. 10 years to collect that up. I keep meaning to take it to the bank but I can't lift it now. I do know, however when my pot of 5ps is full I can take it to the bank and it adds up to around £30. See, like they say look after the pennies and all that.
We live in an age where cashless payment is becoming common place. I still don't feel comfotable with this. What if the technology fails. I'm gonna be stuck somewhere with no access to my cash I guess we should be glad with this unveiling of our new pound coin, that they are still planning to make acual coins for now, but for how long I ask myself.
Finaly, a moral dilema for you. You get a coin in your change that you suspect is fake. What do you do? I would like to think you wouldnt try and pass it off to some dozey cashier in a petrol station shop, but I suspect thats exactly what you would do right? Talking of dozey cashiers, in my days at Tesco, I was on a till and noted the previous cashier had accepted a black and white photo copy of a £10 note. That certinaly fills me with confidence!