THE official brief suggests that a heraldic theme or something related to Britain’s native fauna might be appropriate. But the team that will decide on the redesign of Britain’s loose change may need to widen its horizons if readers of The Times are anything to go by.

News of a Royal Mint competition to find six new designs for the nation’s coins prompted some less conventional suggestions, including a representation of the London Underground, Concorde, a dove of peace, a fish supper, the Christian cross and the Islamic crescent moon and star. More flippant suggestions included “a couple of yobs dancing on a car bonnet”. One reader who joined our online debate suggested an inscription for the 50p coin: “My other 50p was spent by Gordon.”

Sir Christopher Frayling, chairman of Arts Council England, chairs the Royal Mint advisory committee that will draw up the shortlist for the designs. He may have to tackle resistance to the very idea of a redesign. Many Times readers saw no reason for any change at all, while others suggested that the traditional figure of Britannia simply be updated rather than replaced.

This option seems unlikely to win approval from the Treasury, which said that our loose change is long overdue for a facelift, but added that existing coins would remain in circulation.

A spokesman said: “The reverse designs of most UK coins were chosen in the late 1960s at the time of decimalisation. There is a tradition of periodically changing the ‘tail’ side of coins and it is necessary to go back to the reign of Queen Victoria to find a series of reverses which had lasted as long.” Sir Christopher may also have to weigh up support for designs that represent traditional notions of Britishness against backing for artwork that reflects Britain ’s diversity and multicultural identity.

The advisory committee includes historians, artists and coin specialists. Together they will draw up a shortlist of designs that will be presented to the general public for approval.

The Royal Mint is considering a trial minting of coins next year and 2007, so that the public knows the look and feel of the proposed designs. This was done before decimalisation in 1971 and before the release of the £2 coin in 1998. Once the process is complete, the Chancellor will make a recommendation for a design or designs to the Queen, who has the final say on the new coins, which are planned to be released by 2008.

A mint of suggestions from Times readers

How about an inscription on the new 50p coin? Perhaps: “My other 50p was spent by Gordon” — Matthew Elliott, The Taxpayers’ Alliance

We should celebrate our individuality as a country that is multicultural and at the forefront for progress . . . A symbol of the Leonardo da Vinci man shows that life is a cycle — Shan Butt, London

Our new coins should represent some of our history and great achievements, such as Concorde. There are also other great historical things such as the Flying Scotsman, the Spitfire, HMS Victory etc — Lee Propert, Bristol

It would be a good idea to have the symbol of a county on the reverse of one denomination of coin so that all counties would be represented. There would be a design for each county representing that county’s symbol (a fox for Leicestershire, a bear for Warwickshire, and so on) — Graham Littlehales

The new coin design should be a picture of Big Ben, or a book (Shakespeare, for example), or it could be a war grave with poppies — Peter Shaw

I’d be interested to know why the coinage needs a makeover; are they so underemployed at the Mint? Perhaps we should return to Britannia — Jon Ledbury

How about a couple of yobs dancing on a car bonnet or a trio of legless ladettes in the gutter? — Derek Thorpe, Bala

A coin could (carry) messages that could help people improve themselves or could just brighten up our day — Teresa Gonzalez

What do you think?

Send your ideas to Coins@thetimes.co.uk

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