# 30 million dodgy pound coins…

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/09/22/30-million-dodgy-pound-coins/
- Published: 2008-09-22T20:29:10+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

[⌊Decus Et Tutamen⌉⌊Decus Et Tutamen⌉[

The Royal Mint says that there are now an estimated 30 million counterfeit £1 coins
in circulation. According to the BBC, that means one in fifty pound coins is worthless.

What do you think the chances are that some of those will end up in charity collecting
tins, especially the unattended kind on shop counters? It is illegal not only to
make a counterfeit coin but also to use one.

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So, any fake coins you might find in your next street collection are worthless. 
You need to hand them in to a bank for presentation to the [Royal Mint](http://www.royalmint.com).

How can you spot a fake? According to the BBC, “It all depends on the quality of
the counterfeit, but key signs include a poorly defined ribbed edge, the wrong typeface
and an indistinct design or bust of the Queen. A fake can also be slightly different
in colour”.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7628930.stm