Notes Design

It's all change at the Royal Mint today (sorry, there's just no way to avoid that pun), as it revealed the new designs for for the coinage of the United Kingdom.

Rather brilliantly, the designs are the work of a 26 year old graphic designer, Matthew Dent, chosen from an open competition that attracted over 4,000 entries. We wonder if he'll get a Blue Peter badge for his efforts?

The coins all use a heraldic shield as a linking theme – the £1 coin has the full shield, and the rest of the coins feature segments from it, making up a sort of gappy jigsaw puzzle that'll set you back 88p. It's a kind of post-heritage feel.

The new designs will be hitting your pocket gradually during the coming year.