The new Brexit coin, designed to commemorate Britain’s departure from the EU, gets mired in controversy even before its launch.

The commemorative coin proclaims: “Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations.” Underneath that slogan of goodwill is the date its launch: 31 January 2020. That’s when the United Kingdom officially begins the process of leaving the European Union, after nearly 45 years of membership.

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The first images of the 50p coin were unveiled last Sunday, 26 January, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid.

Plans to produce the coins were first announced by Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer under Teresa May, in his 2018 budget. Subsequently, the coins were designed by Boris Johnson’s Chancellor, Javid.

Over time, the coin had to be re-minted a couple of times, after previous versions were shredded and melted down as the Brexit date was missed and had to be changed on the coinage.

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With the certainty of Britain leaving the EU on 31 January, one million of Brexit coins are set to go into circulation that day. Another seven million will be released later in the year.

“Incredible anger”

Unsurprisingly for a token conceived to memorialise an episode that nearly ripped the country apart, the Brexit coin is the subject of controversy. Several High-profile figures have vowed never to use the new coin.

Former Tony Blair spokesman and campaign director Alastair Campbell said: “The thought of having to pay for goods with a coin that stands in direct opposition to my core beliefs fills me with incredible anger.”

Novelist Philip Pullman tweeted: “The ‘Brexit’ 50p coin is missing an Oxford comma, and should be boycotted by all literate people.”

The Oxford comma (also known as serial comma, or Harvard comma) is a comma placed immediately before the coordinating conjunction (usually and or or) in a series of three or more terms.

Journalist and TV personality Piers Morgan, shared his thoughts about the backlash on Twitter:

“I love how demented Remainers are getting about a 50p coin. It’s been worth Boris [Johnson] doing it just to see them losing their sh*t. Again.”

“Leaving the European Union is a turning point in our history and this coin marks the beginning of this new chapter,” said Javid, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

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