Coin Marks 150 Years of
British Public Libraries
A new coin, minted to celebrate 150 years of public libraries in Britain, made its debut August 29, complete with a design by sculptor Mary Milner Dickens that shows the turning pages of a book resting on top of a classical public library building adorned with compact discs. The value of the coin is 50 pence (73 cents U.S.).
The Library Association has been coordinating celebrations of the anniversary of the 1850 Public Libraries Act that allowed town councils to fund local libraries, the event the coin commemorates. Prior to that date, free libraries had depended on the generosity of private benefactors.
The new coin has the same seven-sided shape as other 50p coins, which were first introduced in 1969 to replace the 10-shilling note in preparation for conversion to decimal-system currency.
The coin, along with a presentation folder that contains information about British public libraries, may be ordered directly from the Royal Mint, which also offers limited-edition 22K-gold and sterling-silver proofs.
Posted September 4, 2000.
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