What's your wish list for new national circulation sets?

[<k>]

In the 1990s, communism died.

Then there were some superb new coin series from the newly democratic countries.

Those of Croatia, Slovenia and Slovakia spring to mind.

However, the Polish series had very tame and lame designs of leaves.

They were based on similar Polish designs of the late 1940s.

Even if Poland were to join the euro zone, its designs could scarcely be any worse.

[FosseWay]

You can imagine that it would be difficult to get agreement on any new designs from the several members of this currency union. It could be done, but perhaps they think it's safer to stick with tradition.

I don't really see the ECCB coins as symptomatic of "tradition". They're certainly bland and I'm sure you've hit the nail on the head as to why they are that way - the same applies to the common side of euro coins. But ultimately this is simply a "does what it says on the tin" design. It has the name of the issuing authority and the value in words and figures. As a concession to aesthetics and probably a deterrent to forgers it has a simple motif of crossed branches that can't really be interpreted as anything other than crossed branches. Boring, certainly, but I don't think you can blame tradition.

For me the negative side of "tradition" expresses itself in the continued insistence on heraldry on UK coins, the presidents on US coins coupled with the various "must have" bits of text (i.e. everything other than the country and the denomination that appears on non-commemoratives), the persistence of the figure of Liberty/Marianne/Libertad on various other countries' coins, and so on. I suppose I draw a distinction between authorities that say "keep it bland because that is the course of least resistance" (the ECCB/euro approach) and the pompous "we can't possibly not have X on the coinage, it will be the end of civilisation as we know it" UK/US approach.

[Pabitra]

The East Caribbean States has had the same ship design on its coins since the 1980s. That dollar above has been replaced by a copper-nickel one, of course.

And in 2012, by a Nickel plated Steel one.

[<k>]

For me the negative side of "tradition" expresses itself in the continued insistence on heraldry on UK coins - the pompous "we can't possibly not have X on the coinage, it will be the end of civilisation as we know it" UK/US approach.

Well, the UK almost chose this set. Not a hugely revolutionary step, of course. But then David Cameron, as leader of the Conservative Party, which was not in government in those days, chose an oak tree as the party's new symbol. The Royal Mint then became very nervous about the oaks in this set.



Even under Edward VIII, the authorities made a half-hearted attempt to innovate.

The wren farthing, remember, came from a proposed "royal animals" set (see image above).

See: UK Royal Animals: Rejected Designs of 1936


Ultimately, inertia mostly won out.

However, the farthing, halfpenny and threepence designs were indeed modernised.

[FosseWay]

I like the oak set, but I fear it would have been seen as very Anglo-centric to the exclusion of the rest of the UK. The coincidental likness to the Conservatives' logo is much less problematic.

The wren farthing in particular was very revolutionary for the UK. It is a great shame that that spirit was not carried on, as you say.

[<k>]

I like the oak set, but I fear it would have been seen as very Anglo-centric to the exclusion of the rest of the UK.

You have a point. I'd never thought of that. The tree isn't even particularly English, of course. Other countries use it - and its leaves.

[FosseWay]

In the international context it's not particularly English, no. It's adorned German coins in various forms for over a century, for example. But it is the "national tree" of England, it is symbolic of the English Navy (the one that defeated the Vikings under Alfred, the French at Sluys and the Spanish Armada, rather than the modern UK Royal Navy), it is referenced in the tune "Hearts of Oak" which thanks to its use in Remembrance ceremonies is specific to England, it has represented England on the £1 coin in the recent past... I could go on 

Also, there will always be people looking for pet issues to test their freshly ground axes on. Whatever you or I think of the legitimacy of the Anglo-centric accusation, it would be inevitable that the objection would be raised.

Looking at the set again, I like all of them except the 50p. I can see the logic of the progression from acorn to dead, lightning-struck tree, but it seems rather sad to adorn the largest coin in the series with something so negative.

[FosseWay]

A solution to the dead tree problem: Bin the 1p and 2p, and use the designs from the 1p, 2p, 5p and 20p on the 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p respectively.

[<k>]

All living things must die. Why should the representation of death be taboo?

[FosseWay]

I don't think I said it should be - just that I'm not convinced this is the right circumstance. But each to their own, of course.

[redlock]

A new series of American innovations and inventions is being proposed in Congress to compliment the Native American series of annual designs.

The US Senate approved the bill (https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/770) with an amendment. The US House is expected to approve it and Pres. Trump is expected to sign the bill.
So, it's highly likely this series will happen.

[<k>]

Apart from the dollar coin of Belize, the country's designs are old-fashioned and boring.

They haven't changed since the 1970s.

Time for a change?

[<k>]

The designs of Comoros do not cohere. They look a real mashup. Time for a new design series.

[<k>]

Djibouti is another sad case in need of a new design series.

[Pabitra]

250 Franc reverse ( right side) is upside down.