HC Deb 20 April 1983 vol 41 cc101-2W
Mr. Wheeler

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the new issue of coins was made omitting from the reverse design the word "new"; and what arrangements have been made to acquaint the public with this change.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

The Currency Act 1982, which received Royal Assent on 2 February 1982, made it lawful to drop the word "new" from "new penny". Accordingly, the Royal Mint commenced issuing coins to the banks for general circulation without the word "new" as follows:

  • 50p April 1982
  • 20p June 1982
  • ½p July 1982
  • 1p November 1982

In a press release dated 10 February 1982—a copy of which was placed in the Library — the Royal Mint announced that from 1982 onwards coins would be struck without the word "new" in front of penny or pence.

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