A 50p coin to commemorate Brexit has still not been minted yet, just weeks before the UK is supposed to leave the EU.
Chancellor Sajid Javid drew up proposals in August for millions of coins to enter mass circulation in time for Brexit.
But amid doubts Britain will leave on October 31, the Royal Mint admits just 1,000 “trial coins” had been produced so far.
A Freedom of Information response from the Mint, dated October 3, said: “No coins have actually been minted”.
The Royal Mint refused to release correspondence with the Treasury about plans for the coin, claiming it would “prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs”.
Despite the news, government sources today insisted they were still on track to have millions of the 50p coins in circulation by the Brexit date.
(Image: HM Treasury)
The Royal Mint boasts it is able to strike new coins with designs at speeds of up to 850 per minute.
The information was disclosed to Ben Nelmes, a former staffer for a Labour MP.
The Brexit-themed coins were originally planned as collectors’ editions, costing £10 each, in a run of 10,000.
But new Chancellor Sajid Javid asked officials to look at expanding the idea to put millions into mass circulation.
The Brexit-themed coins are to be stamped with the message “friendship with all nations” and the October 31 date.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
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But it is not known when they will start entering mass circulation – and the October 31 Brexit date is not yet certain.
Boris Johnson has insisted Britain will leave the EU on Halloween , deal or no deal.
But court papers last week said he will comply with a law demanding he asks for a three-month delay to Brexit if there’s no deal.
A Treasury spokesman declined to comment.
