Yes, surprisingly. Counterfeiting of the new coin dropped to almost zero within the first year. The Royal Mint’s fancy hologram and 12-sided shape meant that cheap fakes were instantly spotted. Vending machines also had a field day—they could finally tell the difference between a £1 coin and a thin washer someone painted gold. But here’s the ironic twist: you know who hated the new coin? Vending machine owners. They had to retrofit millions of machines to accept the dodecagon shape. That cost businesses millions of pounds. So, really, the coin was a win for security and a loss for change machines everywhere. “Progress,” as they say, “is just a fancy word for spending money on new slots.”
When did the new pound coin come out in 2017? All you need to know
And what about the old coins? The Royal Mint melted down over 1.5 billion of them. That’s enough metal to build a small bridge. Some ended up in jewelry, some in art projects, and, presumably, some in my grandma’s biscuit tin where they still live, thinking it’s 1995. The new coin is now as common as air, and I barely think about it until I accidentally drop it in a parking meter. But now, when I see a round pound in a charity shop jar, I get a little nostalgic. It’s like running into an ex—you remember the good times, but you’re glad the relationship ended.
So, When Exactly Did It Come Out Again?
Just to hammer it home: March 28, 2017. Mark it in your calendar if you’re a coin nerd. Or don’t—it’s already eight years old now, and you probably don’t even remember what you had for breakfast last Tuesday. But next time you’re paying with a shiny 12-sided friend, give it a little wink. It’s not just currency—it’s a tiny, polygon-shaped monument to the war against counterfeiters. And also a reminder that the old round ones are now officially antique. Your move, two-pound coin. You’re next.
(P.S. If you find an old round pound under your couch today, don’t panic. You can still exchange it at most banks in the UK, but act fast. They might phase that out too, and then we’ll all be carrying contactless payments and nothing else. The horror—a pocket with no jingling sound!)
