Tails you win! New competition launched to design the new £1 coin

A NATIONWIDE art contest has been launched to design the pound coin’s “tails” side.

competition launched to design new one pound coin The new 12-sided £1[PA]

The winner will have come up with the best creative idea for the reverse side of the new ­“distinctly British” £1 coin, which enters circulation from 2017. As well as being able to take pride in seeing their work replicated in people’s hands and wallets for years to come, they will get a £10,000 fee for the right to use their design.

Plans for the 12-sided coin – a similar shape to a pre-decimal threepenny bit – were unveiled in the Budget.

The competition is open to anyone who wishes to enter, irrespective of how old they are or where they are from, the Treasury said.

All entries must be submitted by October 30.

Contestants are being asked to “show what Britain or ‘Britishness’ means, drawing on qualities and quirks that make our nation unique”.

Chancellor George Osborne said: “Think about your favourite landmark, or a great British achievement or a symbol from our islands’ story.

“The winning design will be in millions of people’s pockets and purses. It’ll be heads you win; tails, it’s your design.”

Think about your favourite landmark, or a great British achievement or a symbol from our islands’ story

Chancellor George Osborne

The coin, with gold-coloured outer ring and silver-coloured centre, will be the world’s most secure circulating coin, the Treasury said. Around three per cent of current one pound coins are fake.

According to the competition rules, the denomination “one pound” must appear as part of the overall design but it is left up to the designer precisely where this is placed.

Artwork can be submitted in pencil, ink, paint or using computer drawing or design software, but three dimensional entries are not allowed.

All designs need to be presented on a template which can be downloaded from the Royal Mint’s website.

See terms at royalmint.com/newonepoundcoin

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