After 34 years we welcome the beginning of a new era as the new 12-sided £1 coin replaces the familiar ‘round pound’ coin in our change. While the new £1 coin contains the most up-to-date technology it also pays tribute to minting heritage, with a nod to one of the most popular coins of the twentieth century.

The 12-sided threepenny coin, or ‘thru’penny bit’, was a favourite among the generations that lived through the Second World War. Part of its popularity was its shape, which made it easy to identify