§ Mr. Dubsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) under what circumstances a 20p decimal pattern in coin produced in the early 1960s has been put up for auction and whether any of the proceeds will accrue to the Royal Mint or to the Exchequer;
(2) under what circumstances the Royal Mint produces pattern coins for possible future issues; in whom their ownership resides; and what rules control their production and disposal;
(3) how many 20p decimal pattern coins have been produced since 1960 and in which years; how many were distributed, on whose authority and to whom; and how many have been subsequently recovered.
§ Mr. LawsonThe Royal Mint produces pattern coins to fulfil its advisory function on United Kingdom and overseas coinage systems. At the point of manufacture pattern pieces are the property of the Royal Mint. Under current policy, United Kingdom pattern pieces may be released for experimental of consultative purposes, but remain the property of the Royal Mint. Policy in relation to the production and distribution of overseas pattern coins is primarily a matter for the issuing authority.
In the course of its preparations for the introduction of decimal coins, the Royal Mint produced a large number of trial and experimental pieces, among them some 20p pattern coins dated 1963. Detailed records of the production and distribution of all these pieces are no longer available, but it is known that pattern coins were shown to members of the Royal Mint advisory committees and to others closely involved in the discussions leading up to decimalisation. Not all these pieces were subsequently recovered. The proceeds from the sale of the 20p pattern coin will accrue to the vendors and not to the Royal Mint or to the Exchequer.
Pattern pieces have been produced for the proposed 20p coin announced earlier this year: 25 pieces are on loan for experimental purposes and the remainder are held by the Royal Mint, the Treasury or the Bank of England.