§ Ms LawrenceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to issue new commemorative coins. [8406]
§ Mr. Gordon BrownHer Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve a recommendation that Britannia bullion coins in gold and silver should be issued later this year to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the introduction of the Britannia gold bullion coins in 1987 and the 300th anniversary of the adoption of the Britannia silver hallmarking standard in 1697.
She has also been graciously pleased to approve a recommendation that a crown piece with a face value of five pounds should be issued in 1998 to celebrate the fiftieth birthday of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales; and she has further approved the issue in 1998 of a fifty pence piece featuring a special design to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on 1 January 1973 and Britain's Presidency of the European Union during the first six months of 1998.
It is intended that the fifty pence piece will be available in 1998 for general circulation and that there will also be collector versions in base and precious metal. The other commemorative coins will be struck primarily for collectors, though the crown pieces celebrating the fiftieth birthday of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will also be made available from banks and post offices at face value during the course of 1998.