In 2005 The Royal Mint released a competition for the public to design the coin collections. It was judged by Gordon Brown and the Queen. The coin design would win a prize of up to £30,000 and your design could be in the pockets of everyone in the UK. Can you imagine your pitch at an interview?Interviewer: Wheres your portfolio?
Interviewee: Its in your wallet, sir.
26-year old Matthew Dent won the competition with the design above. It also recently landed him a black pencil at the D&AD awards.
His design is heraldic. The royal coat of arms represents England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales all coming together on this single design. Dent states that he wanted a jigsaw puzzle design so children, and adults alike, could play with the design. Its an absolutely beautiful concept. A coin shaped jigsaw puzzle. The pound coin was later released as the lid, the explanation and the model with which to create the puzzle itself. It ties the whole design together and provides a stunning outcome.
The only problem with the design is that, singlely, the coins are not easily recognized as this. I saw the new 20 Pence first and while not phased by the coin design I didn’t quite understand it. With uneven lines going off the edge of the coin and the complete ignorance of borders I thought… how strange, are they trying to be edgy and contemporary? However, when I understood it for the first time I was impressed. As was The Prime Minister, The Queen, D&AD and as I am sure others would be too.
I think its quite clear Britain wont be moving to the euro quite yet.
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