A new coin to commemorate the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union features a phrase inspired by the third president of the United States.
The 50 pence coin, unveiled on Sunday, bears the date of Jan. 31, 2020, on which the nation will leave the EU, and the inscription, “Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations.” The quote echoes words President Thomas Jefferson included in his first inaugural address when he listed “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations” as an essential principle for his administration.
On 31 January 2020, a new 50p coin marking the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union will be released. More >> https://t.co/N5VlnEy2ho pic.twitter.com/pkDtqfzLGd
— The Royal Mint (@RoyalMintUK) January 26, 2020
Chancellor and Master of the Mint Sajid Javid initially ordered the celebratory coins to be produced by Oct. 31, the original departure date that was later pushed back after a vote on Brexit was tied up in Parliament. According to Javid, who called Brexit a “turning point in our history,” the new coin “marks the beginning of this new chapter.” He was given the first batch of coins and will present one to Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week.
About one million coins were melted down in October, and the metal was saved for use when the new exit date was set. Around three million Brexit coins will enter circulation around the U.K. on Friday, and another seven million will be added later in the year. The Royal Mint will open for 24 hours as part of the coin’s launch to let people strike their own commemorative coins.
The country’s Brexit deal became law on Thursday with the approval from Queen Elizabeth II. The Jan. 31 exit date comes years after Britain voted in a 2016 referendum to leave the EU. Approving a plan for the departure was stalled for three years, and Johnson eventually called a December election and secured a large enough conservative majority to pass the deal.
