I always liked British currency - although it’s coins were always on the heavy side. If you had several one pound coins in your pocket you would walk in an awkward way.

So the British got some new designs - and these are butt ugly. The look like extra cool … I think the designer still had that early Blair period mantra “Cool Britannia” still in his head.

Instead of using established symbols and emblems in sound way, the designs try to be extra hip. But money shouldn’t be hip, but easy to “understand”, visually easy to separate and have unique tactile characteristics (which the British coins certainly have - hence the very different shapes for 50 and 20 pence).

I find the 20 pence piece especially odd - only showing the arse and tail of the English Lion. I think now would be the best time to get the Euro my dear Brits …