When Did New One Pound Coin Come Out

So, there I was, rummaging through my coin jar the other day, you know, the one that's been gathering dust in the corner of my desk for ages. I was on a mission to find enough coins to feed the insatiable parking meter. And then, amidst the sea of copper and bronze, I spotted it - a shiny, new one pound coin. Now, I'm no numismatist, but I could tell this wasn't your average Queenie. It was bigger, rounder, and had a funky hologram on it. I thought to myself, "When did they start making these bad boys?"

And that, my curious friend, is how I found myself down the rabbit hole of the one pound coin's history. Grab a cuppa, let's dive in.

From Round to 12-Sided: The Evolution of the Pound

Alright, let's rewind a bit. The one pound coin, as we know it today, is actually the third version of its kind. The first one was introduced in 1983, replacing the pound note (which, by the way, was the size of a handkerchief - can you imagine stuffing that in your back pocket?). It was round, had a portrait of the Queen on one side, and was made of copper and nickel. It was the cat's pajamas, until... well, until it wasn't.

You see, the round pound was a bit of a cheat. It was the same size as the old 50p coin, which led to a lot of confusion and, let's be honest, a fair bit of swearing at vending machines. So, in 1998, the Royal Mint decided to give the pound a makeover. Out went the round shape, in came the 12-sided edge. It was a bit like giving your old car a new paint job, hoping no one would notice the engine was still on its last legs.

Enter the New Kid on the Block

Now, here's where things get interesting. Remember that shiny, new one pound coin I found? That's the latest model, the one that's been around since 2017. But why the change? Well, it turns out, the 12-sided pound had a bit of a security issue. It was too easy to copy, and that's not something you want in your currency. So, the Royal Mint decided it was time for a complete overhaul.

The new one pound coin is made of two metals - a nickel-brass outer layer and an inner disc of nickel-plated steel. It's got that fancy hologram I mentioned earlier, which changes from a '£' symbol to the number '1' when you tilt it. It's also a bit bigger and heavier than its predecessors, making it harder to counterfeit. And, as a nice little bonus, it's got a secret image of the Queen's crown hidden in the design. Isn't that just the cat's whiskers?

Everything you need to know about the new £1 coin - BBC Newsround

So, When Did This Happen, Anyway?

Alright, alright, I can hear you tapping your foot, waiting for the big reveal. The new one pound coin was officially introduced on March 20, 2017. But it wasn't until March 28, 2017, that it started circulating. The old round pound had a bit of a send-off, with a special 'round pound' coin being issued to mark its retirement. It was like the last dance at a school disco, all nostalgia and tears.

Now, you might be wondering why there was such a gap between the introduction and the circulation of the new coin. Well, that's because the Royal Mint wanted to give businesses time to update their machines to accept the new coin. It was like giving everyone a heads-up before a big party - "Hey, we're changing the dress code, so make sure you iron your best shirt!"

And What About the Old Coins?

You might be wondering what happened to all those old round pounds. Well, they didn't just disappear into the ether. The Bank of England gave them a new lease on life, using them to create new £10 notes. That's right, the old round pound is now the security thread in your shiny new tenner. Talk about a career change!

And there you have it, folks. The story of the one pound coin, from its humble beginnings to its shiny, new, 12-sided self. So, the next time you find one of these bad boys in your pocket, you'll know you're holding a little piece of history. And who knows, maybe one day it'll be worth more than just a quid. Stranger things have happened, right?