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Post by Neko Bazu on Jan 29, 2008 8:41:15 GMT -1
Government plan to remove Britannia from coinsLong story short, they're planning to take the figure Britannia from 50p coins (plus the chained portcullis from 1ps, the Thistles and Crowns from £1s etc) and replace them with "themes to represent Britain, such as flora or fauna, geographic features, social, political or cultural achievements or British institutions", or themes that interpret heraldry "in an imaginative and creative way". Going by this government's record, we'll now have mosques and the European stars on our coins, so that we "don't offend minority groups." (I don't mean to come across as being racist when I say that, btw, even if it is a bit of an exaggeration - just look at their track record, and tell me you disagree. Seriously.) Don't get me wrong; some designs could be good - a map of the UK would be bearable, the British Bulldog would be fantastic, one of the famous images from the Blitz, such as this one: that sums up the 'never say die' mentality, would be superb. But I can't see that at all - quite the opposite; it'll be a design that disgusts the nation, and we'll be stuck with it. Besides which, what's wrong with Britannia anyway? We've had her for the last 320-odd years; why change her now? What better symbol is there of Britain? Further to that, how much is this venture going to cost? Somewhere in the six-figure region wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. The symbol itself makes no practical difference, I'll grant you. But it's just that - a symbol. It's supposed to represent Britishness - so why not hold with the single most powerful representation of our history? Makes a joke of Gordon Brown's attempts to drape himself in the Union Flag and bang on about his patrioticness when he came to power, doesn't it? (And yes, I know it's a Daily Mail article, not that they're the only ones to run it - doesn't mean I'm unable to make my own mind up on it though )
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Post by weallloveleeds on Jan 29, 2008 8:47:43 GMT -1
Leave it alone. They are so out of touch with what the majority of this nation want I'd say it would cost millions Neko- designing the new logos alone will be loads, then rebranding the coins will be even more. If they're going to take the symbolism out of the pound, then they may as well just cut out the middle step and go straight to the Euro.
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Post by jh1980 on Jan 29, 2008 8:54:37 GMT -1
I like Britannia. I find her a powerful, graceful, beautiful symbol. Symbol of what, I'm not quite sure - it's the goddess Athene with a British flag on her shield! Y'see, I really wanted to agree with you Neko... but as soon as I saw that they were thinking of changing the 50p, I knew there would be howls of approbation from middle England, and the iconoclast in me screamed back "TEAR IT DOWN! TEAR IT DOWWWWNNNN!" I don't know what to say, I can't argue. But I think a lot of the recent variations on coins have been pretty cool. Maybe I should dig some pics up - there was definitely a VE day issue, surely those met your favour?! *ahem* Good Morning!
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Post by HURLOCK on Jan 29, 2008 8:54:42 GMT -1
Seriously why would they want to do this having stated that the pound is Britain and we'll never entertain the Euro as our currency.
This as Birstal says is a serious waste of money, for something that works. Scrap the pound instead of this route far cheaper to embrace the Euro now as opposed to this route!
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Post by jh1980 on Jan 29, 2008 9:03:55 GMT -1
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Post by Neko Bazu on Jan 29, 2008 9:14:38 GMT -1
I like Britannia. I find her a powerful, graceful, beautiful symbol. Symbol of what, I'm not quite sure - it's the goddess Athene with a British flag on her shield! Y'see, I really wanted to agree with you Neko... but as soon as I saw that they were thinking of changing the 50p, I knew there would be howls of approbation from middle England, and the iconoclast in me screamed back "TEAR IT DOWN! TEAR IT DOWWWWNNNN!" I don't know what to say, I can't argue. But I think a lot of the recent variations on coins have been pretty cool. Maybe I should dig some pics up - there was definitely a VE day issue, surely those met your favour?! *ahem* Good Morning! Like I said, change in and of itself, I'm not opposed to - potentially, there's some fantastic ideas out there, as I suggested, and as were some of the pics you posted. These ones aren't commemorative or anything, though; they're just change for the sake of it. I can't see any reason for the expense, and given their previous interpretations of what they said they're aiming for, I can't see these particular designs being what the people will want either. I'd be more reassured if they released the designs in advance and gauged the public feeling towards them, since these aren't being done for a special reason. They've deliberately opted to keep the designs secret though, which - to me - smacks of, "Oooh, they won't like this..." given the triumphant posturing politicians are prone to when they have a good idea. I'm open to the idea, but I expect this instance to be a hash-up. And as I said, why get rid of Britannia? She's one of the few symbols the whole of the UK can unite behind!
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Post by HURLOCK on Jan 29, 2008 9:18:47 GMT -1
Y'see, I really wanted to agree with you Neko... but as soon as I saw that they were thinking of changing the 50p, I knew there would be howls of approbation from middle England, and the iconoclast in me screamed back "TEAR IT DOWN! TEAR IT DOWWWWNNNN!" Maybe we should have some muslim C*nt on our 50p's then Jules, afterall they get fucking given them. So why not embose them with their images!
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Post by Neko Bazu on Jan 29, 2008 9:22:41 GMT -1
Y'see, I really wanted to agree with you Neko... but as soon as I saw that they were thinking of changing the 50p, I knew there would be howls of approbation from middle England, and the iconoclast in me screamed back "TEAR IT DOWN! TEAR IT DOWWWWNNNN!" Maybe we should have some muslim C*nt on our 50p's then Jules, afterall they get fucking given them. So why not embose them with their images! In all fairness, Hurls, I think that's an over-reaction (as I said, I was exaggerating when I said mosques) - we can't have Mohammed/Allah on there anyway (no pictures, remember?), and I don't think they would even if they could. I'm more concerned they'll go for some weakened, middle-of-the-road, politically-correct option that really doesn't represent anything about what Britain is to the people who live there.
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Post by weallloveleeds on Jan 29, 2008 9:24:35 GMT -1
Argh, I can't help it! Why do you have to be such knee-jerk emotivists?! *clutches face in despair* Do you OBJECT to any of these patriotic images? Hmmm?! Jules, it's the potential pathetic toning down of 'Britishness'- including something to appease the PC brigade and minorities that will be brought in that pisses me off.
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Post by jh1980 on Jan 29, 2008 9:29:39 GMT -1
Maybe we should have some muslim C*nt on our 50p's then Jules, afterall they get fucking given them. So why not embose them with their images! Just like I said, knee jerk! For the record, I think we should keep Britannia on there and kick the picture of the Queen off... but no doubt that'll upset you, and you'll recoil in horror, and you'll tell me I want "that C*nt Blair" on my coins!
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Post by HURLOCK on Jan 29, 2008 9:30:46 GMT -1
In all fairness, Hurls, I think that's an over-reaction (as I said, I was exaggerating when I said mosques) - we can't have Mohammed/Allah on there anyway (no pictures, remember?), and I don't think they would even if they could. I'm more concerned they'll go for some weakened, middle-of-the-road, politically-correct option that really doesn't represent anything about what Britain is to the people who live there. Maybe it is fella, but this act is being done to appease these sorts of individuals because this is what Britain has become. I find it quite annoying that people take these decisions with any real consultation and then wonder why this country is losing it's identity. And Jules says it should be done to annoy middle England, when he's part of that set.
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Post by jh1980 on Jan 29, 2008 9:32:21 GMT -1
Jules, it's the potential pathetic toning down of 'Britishness'- including something to appease the PC brigade and minorities that will be brought in that pisses me off. So, celebrating the Victoria Cross, the National Health Service, the Sporting Achievement of Sir Roger Bannister, Victory in Europe, Libraries and the Dictionary of Samuel Johnson are examples of "toning down Britishness" are they?! I think I'm going to burst a blood vessel...
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Post by Neko Bazu on Jan 29, 2008 9:33:05 GMT -1
Maybe we should have some muslim C*nt on our 50p's then Jules, afterall they get fucking given them. So why not embose them with their images! Just like I said, knee jerk! For the record, I think we should keep Britannia on there and kick the picture of the Queen off... but no doubt that'll upset you, and you'll recoil in horror, and you'll tell me I want "that C*nt Blair" on my coins! There is to be no kicking of the Queen Like it or not, she's head of state, so she stays - if you want her removed as head of state that badly, you'd better get on with setting up that protest group Frankly, I'd rather a monarch than any Prime Minister's head on the coins - can you imagine seeing Thatcher's face every time you bought a beer?
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Post by weallloveleeds on Jan 29, 2008 9:34:23 GMT -1
Jules, it's the potential pathetic toning down of 'Britishness'- including something to appease the PC brigade and minorities that will be brought in that pisses me off. So, celebrating the Victoria Cross, the National Health Service, the Sporting Achievement of Sir Roger Bannister, Victory in Europe, Libraries and the Dictionary of Samuel Johnson are examples of "toning down Britishness" are they?! I think I'm going to burst a blood vessel... I meant the ones this shower implement! ...You ought to see a doctor
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Post by jh1980 on Jan 29, 2008 9:35:22 GMT -1
Maybe it is fella, but this act is being done to appease these sorts of individuals because this is what Britain has become. I find it quite annoying that people take these decisions with any real consultation and then wonder why this country is losing it's identity. And Jules says it should be done to annoy middle England, when he's part of that set. No it isn't you nutcase! It probably is the idea of some jumped up "minister for modernisation" or similar but not everything is a plot to steal the spirit of 1950s Britain from your soul! I didn't say it "should" be done - just that it would annoy little Englanders everywhere... and that I find your outrage as pathetic as the suggestion that British coins would be covered in Arabic!
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Post by HURLOCK on Jan 29, 2008 9:38:23 GMT -1
Maybe we should have some muslim C*nt on our 50p's then Jules, afterall they get fucking given them. So why not embose them with their images! Just like I said, knee jerk! For the record, I think we should keep Britannia on there and kick the picture of the Queen off... but no doubt that'll upset you, and you'll recoil in horror, and you'll tell me I want "that C*nt Blair" on my coins! Thats just the 'do gooder term' for when they get that reaction for what they thought was a great idea! The only time the Queen should come off is when their is a new monarch mate.
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Post by jh1980 on Jan 29, 2008 9:38:57 GMT -1
There is to be no kicking of the Queen Like it or not, she's head of state, so she stays - if you want her removed as head of state that badly, you'd better get on with setting up that protest group Frankly, I'd rather a monarch than any Prime Minister's head on the coins - can you imagine seeing Thatcher's face every time you bought a beer? HAHAHA. Very predictable. And what the hell did the Queen do to secure your dogged loyalty?! I'd rather neither. The practice of putting a head of state on coinage dates from Hellenistic times, prior to that the coin would only have a symbol of the city state whence it came. These symbols were invariably more interesting and attractive than some aged monarch or political leader!
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Post by jh1980 on Jan 29, 2008 9:40:30 GMT -1
I meant the ones this shower implement! ...You ought to see a doctor It will probably be the same sort of thing! Meh, I just get very angry when I see people being idiots
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Post by HURLOCK on Jan 29, 2008 9:43:26 GMT -1
I didn't say it "should" be done - just that it would annoy little Englanders everywhere... and that I find your outrage as pathetic as the suggestion that British coins would be covered in Arabic! Try telling that to the war veterans and people who have lost their lives defending this nation. Whilst my mother and father are not nationals of this country I really can understand why this sort of crap annoys people. It's like it's shameful to be patriotic and it only happens here no where else in the World! How can you condone it
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Post by jh1980 on Jan 29, 2008 9:49:11 GMT -1
Thats just the 'do gooder term' for when they get that reaction for what they thought was a great idea! The only time the Queen should come off is when their is a new monarch mate. LOL, you can't paint me as "goody two-shoes" - the fact of the matter is you're so fecking paranoid about losing out on British identity, that any little thing can set you off! Coins are re-minted all the time FFS! Christ, not you too! Jesus Hurls, you're not even British! What the hell gave you the idea that Monarchy was a good idea?! ALL the social progress in history has come from stripping away royal privileges!
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