British design back at the top

[doctorfoz]

After the fiasco/triumph* which was the Olympics 2012 logo (*delete as appropriate) comes the announcement of new British coins.

http://www.royalmint.com/newdesigns/designsRevealed.aspx

personally, I like the look of them - and they were done by one guy, rather than a large firm.

[John G]

that's cool

[AbiJ]

nice, I kind of had a wee thing for collectingthe different two pound coins a while back. I've spent the common ones now and just have a football one left (euro2000 possibly?)

[Red Kittie Kat]

oh wow that is cool .. I like how they are shaped too :)

[garricks]

Wow, nice. Brilliant guy, Matthew Dent. (Wonder if he's related to Arthur?)

[doctorfoz]

Now, British coins with Hitchhikers' stuff on/around them would have been a very good idea! (Vorgon poetry anyone?)

[PrintDriver]

Anyone notice that the design was awarded via contest?
Would you have entered?
1 chance in 4000 of claiming the title...

[Virgo Nightingale]

^^ Yup. First thing I noticed, after the funky shape.

[Devinyl]

Those are pretty sweet! I like 'em, but I get the feeling they will look dated quickly.

[budafist]

They are really cool. So unexpected.

[frankster]

The shapes have always been like that, ever since decimalisation. The new designs are certainly interesting. I was very fond of the traditional designs, like the tudor rose of the 20p and the britania of the 50p. Are these new designs temporary or are they replacing the traditional designs for good? It would be a shame to see the British currency going the toy money route of the Euro.

I like that there have always been versions of a coin, like the 50p with the joined hands and the various one pound coin designs. I miss the really old 10p before they made it smaller, back when it was still labelled as two shillings and had a really ornate pattern on the back featuring the tudor rose for england, the thistle for scotland, the leak for wales and the shamrock for ireland...

http://128.192.145.172/foreign6/66gbr2s.jpg

[Virgo Nightingale]

The UK doesn't do the Euro? Or do both currencies overlap? How on earth would that work?

[frankster]

Nope, UK is not Euro'd. We still have currency of the realm. Not that this is a deciding factor, but can you imagine how weird it would be if the queen was still on other countries currencies in the commonwealth, but not on her own anymore?

[Virgo Nightingale]

Ya, that would be a bit awkward... :D

[captain spanky]

well i don't like them.

i can't put my finger on why tho... :(
maybe it reminds me of cheap football collectors coins with the crest on... dunno

[m00nwater]

I was a bit miffed at the fact it was a contest, too...I wonder what he got for compensation.

[frankster]

Does it remind you of the footy Esso token coins they came out with when we were kids Spanky?

[Optimusdinkus]

Nope, UK is not Euro'd. We still have currency of the realm. Not that this is a deciding factor, but can you imagine how weird it would be if the queen was still on other countries currencies in the commonwealth, but not on her own anymore?
But the each of the euro coins have the countries prowess's and landmarks on them, so technically it wouldn't really leave the coins.... maybe the paperbacks.

[frankster]

Yes, but every coin in the UK has the monarch's head on one of the sides. It has been this way since medieval times and over the last 500 years or so the way the monarch faces changes from left to right or from right to left when the next king or queen takes the throne, so Elizabeth faces right, but Charlie boy will face left on his coins (if he ever gets a turn)

It was decided many years ago that queeny wouldn't get a lookin with the Euro. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/single_currency/177749.stm)

[SurfPark]

I like the concept and the design. I'm not sure how I feel about it being a contest though. Considering that designing a currency may make your entire career, I suppose its one of those risky situations where there would be a huge pay off if won.

I always feel that graphic design contests are never fair. I'm sure many of those designs submitted accomplished the goal the government set out, but they had to pick only one design. The factors that made them pick this one over the runner-up are totally subjective. It makes me wonder who is getting the final vote? Certainly not the citizens. Its a shot in the dark, even if someone was to submit a solid design.

[Optimusdinkus]

Yes, but every coin in the UK has the monarch's head on one of the sides. It has been this way since medieval times and over the last 500 years or so the way the monarch faces changes from left to right or from right to left when the next king or queen takes the throne, so Elizabeth faces right, but Charlie boy will face left on his coins (if he ever gets a turn)

It was decided many years ago that queeny wouldn't get a lookin with the Euro. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/single_currency/177749.stm)
Man if the US gave two shits about its traditions and architecture like you guys, I could only imagine how cultured we could be.
In my neighborhood its all stucco pseudo cliche italian design that tries to have some form of authenticity (and by that I mean lightly covered paint strokes on foam plaster). Allthough honestly, isnt it the exchange power that your quid has to our buck?