Britain releases 50 pence coin to mark exit from EU

Britain revealed on Sunday its minted 50 pence coin to mark the country’s exit from the European Union. The said coin was embossed with encryption “Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations” together with Brexit date of 31 January 2020.

An estimated three million coins will be distributed for public use from shops, banks, and post offices with another seven million ready for circulation at the latter part of 2020, the government said.

The first batch of coins was presented to Finance Minister Sajid Javid who is also Master of the Mint. “Leaving the European Union is a turning point in our history and this coin marks the beginning of this new chapter,” he said.

The finance ministry originally planned to release a coin with 29 March 2019 inscription, the original British Exit date, until Britain asked for an extension of its European Union membership.

Javid instructed production with a new deadline of Oct.31 but the process had to stop as another delay came and one million coins had to be melted down.

The bill enacting the Britain exit from the European Union officially became a law on Thursday.

After years of date and execution planning, Britain will finally depart from the European Union at 2300 GMT on Friday.