Brexit 50p coins to be melted down after Boris Johnson forced to delay deadline

The commemorative coins minted to mark Brexit on 31 October will be “recycled” after the UK's date for leaving the EU was delayed by three months.

They had been designed in the spirit of a post-Brexit Britain and were part of an ongoing initiative to commemorate the day Brexit is finalised, first pitched by former chancellor Philip Hammond.

However, the Treasury has since confirmed that the three million coins would be recycled as the date which would have been stamped on it no longer applies – as Brexit has been extended to the 31 January.

A spokesperson said:

We will still produce a coin to mark our departure from the European Union, and this will enter circulation after we have left.

A further 7 million were due to be minted over the course of the year – considerably more than the 10,000 commemorative coins planned by Mr Hammond.

The cost of designing and producing the commemorative coins will be met by the Royal Mint out of its own revenues at no cost to the taxpayer.

Some people are arguing that the decision to mint the coins in the first place was premature

Others believe it to be a metaphor for Brexit

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