蜜芽传媒

The new 拢1 coin will be launched on 28 March 2017. The old one has lasted 34 years and you can still find original 1983 examples in your change. Or can you? No coin has been forged more and some 45 million of the coins in circulation are in fact fake. So the new one has numerous security features to defeat the coiners. It is the first twelve sided coin since the old threepenny bit - last seen in 1971. And in many ways very similar. Not least in value. In terms of prices the old 3d was worth about 75p today. But someone paid a brass 3d in their wage packet in 1937 when it was introduced would expect two of the new 拢1 coins for the same work today. Paul Lewis finds out more about the new coin.

First broadcast on Money Box, 26 February 2017.