§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the specification of the material used in the manufacture of the £1 coin.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe material used in the £1 coin was specified by a royal proclamation dated 10 February 1982 which stated
A new coin of mixed metal of the denomination of one pound shall be made, being a coin of … a standard composition of seventy per centum copper, five and one half per centum nickel and twenty-four and one half per centum zinc.In the making of the said mixed metal coin a remedy (that is a variation from the standard composition specified above) shall be allowed of an amount not exceeding the following, that is to say; a variation from the said standard composition of two per centum copper, three quarters per centum nickel and two per centum zinc.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the precise dimensions of the £1 coin, together with the accepted tolerances.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe precise dimensions and tolerances of the £1 coin were specified by royal proclamation dated 10 February 1982, which stated
A new coin of mixed metal of the denomination of one pound shall be made, being a coin of a standard weight of 9.5 grammes, a standard diameter of 22.5 millimetres … and being circular in shape.In the making of the said mixed metal coin a remedy (that is a variation from the standard weight, diameter … specified above) shall be allowed of an amount not exceeding the following, that is to say: A variation from the said standard weight of an amount per coin (measured as the average of a sample of not more than one kilo-gramme of the coin) of 0.05 grammes; and a variation from the said standard diameter of 0.1 millimetres per coin.There is no legal edge thickness tolerance, but for the convenience of the vending industry, the Royal Mint has established tolerances which allow for 99.7 per cent. of coins to fall within the thickness range 2.95 to 3.25 millimetres.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he takes to satisfy himself that £1 coins have been, and are being, made to the specification; and if he will describe the procedures involved.
§ Mr. Ian StewartA provision is made under the Trial of the Pyx (Amendment) Order 1983 for the annual independent testing of the legal specifications and tolerances of coins manufactured by the Royal Mint.
In addition, the Royal Mint has a quality assurance department and operates an inspection procedure which includes the monitoring of edge thickness.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about variations in the size of different £1 coins.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe Royal Mint has received several representations that vending machines are not accepting certain £1 coins. The royal Mint has asked for sample coins for examination and has thus far received three.
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§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the difference in size or tolerances of the Scottish £1 coin as compared with the original design.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThere is no difference in the size or tolerances of £1 coins of different types.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the incidence of counterfeiting involving £1 coins.
§ Mr. Ian StewartSince the £1 coin was issued on 21 April 1983, the Royal Mint has received 162 counterfeit coins for investigation which, compared to the number of £1 coins in circulation, is negligible. The majority of these counterfeits are easily detected.