§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he does not intend to permit the Royal Mint to produce gold sovereigns during Jubilee Year; and whether he will reconsider his decision.
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§ Mr. Denzil Davies:It is not intended to issue gold sovereigns dated 1977. The production of sovereigns has never been on an annual basis, and the decision on a minting programme for any particular year is based on demand and the level of existing stocks. The Royal Mint has been producing gold sovereigns dated 1976 throughout the Jubilee Year and this continuation of the current programme, which was commenced in the middle of 1976, is not expected to be completed until about the end of this year. In these circumstances coins produced under the next minting programme will be dated 1978.