Freedom in the palm of your hand

By Change Checker | April 30, 2018 |

Exchequer Secretary, Robert Jenrick has seemingly secured the future of Britain’s Penny and Tuppence coins.

Speaking at the historic Trial of the Pyx ceremony on the 27th april, the Treasury Minister launched an impassioned defense of coins.

Describing coins as “freedom in the palm of your hands” he went on to focus on their crucial role in uniting a nation, as well providing simple and easy payment method for over 2.7m Britons.

But most importantly, for those of us fearing the demise of the British Penny and Tuppence, hinted at by Chancellor Philip Hammond during his Spring Statement, he was very clear.

“So the penny is safe. Safe today, safe as long as the British public cherish it and see in it, more than a unit of currency, but a metaphor for the enduring strength and continuity.”

Posted in Blog Home, Coin News

9 Comments

Heidi on May 1, 2018 at 10:56 am

I use more that ever now with this sugar tax on drinks. I don’t always have 5pence I am happy that they are staying

Andrew donaldson on May 1, 2018 at 10:46 am

Disagree penny and two pence may just get a homeless person a coffee or sandwich yes have to gather a few to mount up. Getting rid of them wouldn’t see the price drop from 99to 95.every thing would then be a £1onwards.Okay it’s just one PENCE but that can be a lifeline for those who are struggling

Andrew donaldson on May 1, 2018 at 10:44 am

Disagree penny and two pence may just get a homeless person a coffee or sandwich yes have to gather a few to mount up. Getting rid of them wouldn’t see the price drop from 99to 95.Every then £1onwards.Okay it’s just one PENCE but that can be a lifeline for those who are struggling

Diane on May 1, 2018 at 7:30 am

1p make £1’s

Dean Clark on April 30, 2018 at 9:10 pm

If we got rid of the coppers we will have to recalibrate my scales to round it off to the nearest 5p

William on April 30, 2018 at 7:01 pm

No 1p and 2ps mean no family holidays to beach towns to play on the arcades

Barry Stevenson on April 30, 2018 at 5:51 pm

And bang would go 99p £1.99 and anything after that

Laura L on April 30, 2018 at 5:20 pm

If they got rid of the coppers, so many charities would lose out. People get fed up of a purse full of them and dump them in charity boxes – no one is going to do that with larger denomination coins. Keeping them is a good thing, however annoying you might find them when you have a ton of them in your purse.

Ruslan K on April 30, 2018 at 4:44 pm

I strongly believe that they should go. Being a numismatist I share with many others the love of coins and have a hobby of collecting them. However as a currency I believe that the penny and the two pence are already obsolete. I am not saying that I dislike the coin but we must move on, its effectiveness is questionable and seing the limited copper resources we have, its a great waste that most of the coins will end up in the bin. Not only they take out space in my pocket, they can’t be used to buy anything unless you carry dozens of them in your pocket. I would understand a few years ago when penny had a value and other methods of payment simply did not exist, a penny was great for everything from buying an ice cream to giving your child some pocket money. However in the 21st century I hardy see the point of the coins other than having a collectors value.

Heidi on May 1, 2018 at 10:56 am

I use more that ever now with this sugar tax on drinks. I don’t always have 5pence I am happy that they are staying
Andrew donaldson on May 1, 2018 at 10:46 am

Disagree penny and two pence may just get a homeless person a coffee or sandwich yes have to gather a few to mount up. Getting rid of them wouldn’t see the price drop from 99to 95.every thing would then be a £1onwards.Okay it’s just one PENCE but that can be a lifeline for those who are struggling
Andrew donaldson on May 1, 2018 at 10:44 am

Disagree penny and two pence may just get a homeless person a coffee or sandwich yes have to gather a few to mount up. Getting rid of them wouldn’t see the price drop from 99to 95.Every then £1onwards.Okay it’s just one PENCE but that can be a lifeline for those who are struggling
Diane on May 1, 2018 at 7:30 am

1p make £1’s
Dean Clark on April 30, 2018 at 9:10 pm

If we got rid of the coppers we will have to recalibrate my scales to round it off to the nearest 5p
William on April 30, 2018 at 7:01 pm

No 1p and 2ps mean no family holidays to beach towns to play on the arcades
Barry Stevenson on April 30, 2018 at 5:51 pm

And bang would go 99p £1.99 and anything after that
Laura L on April 30, 2018 at 5:20 pm

If they got rid of the coppers, so many charities would lose out. People get fed up of a purse full of them and dump them in charity boxes – no one is going to do that with larger denomination coins. Keeping them is a good thing, however annoying you might find them when you have a ton of them in your purse.
Ruslan K on April 30, 2018 at 4:44 pm

I strongly believe that they should go. Being a numismatist I share with many others the love of coins and have a hobby of collecting them. However as a currency I believe that the penny and the two pence are already obsolete. I am not saying that I dislike the coin but we must move on, its effectiveness is questionable and seing the limited copper resources we have, its a great waste that most of the coins will end up in the bin. Not only they take out space in my pocket, they can’t be used to buy anything unless you carry dozens of them in your pocket. I would understand a few years ago when penny had a value and other methods of payment simply did not exist, a penny was great for everything from buying an ice cream to giving your child some pocket money. However in the 21st century I hardy see the point of the coins other than having a collectors value.