Yahoo News Artist engraves EU stars onto Brexit 50p coin 'to reflect both sides of debate'
An artist has defaced a new Brexit 50p piece by engraving it with the European stars so it “reflects both sides of the debate”.
Sam Harris, 20, had a metal stamp featuring the twelve five-pointed stars specially made. He then used a hammer to mark the face of the coin which he plans to later put back into circulation.
Mr Harris tried to get a British crafter to make the stamp – but after he was quoted £150 he found a company in Europe who could make one for £25 in a matter of days.
The coins were introduced on 31 January to mark Britain’s exit from the European Union.
Mr Harris, from north London, said: "I do political art and this was just another piece. I've only made one at the moment.
"I'm making the coin two sided and using it as a way to say there are two sides to the Brexit debate.
"Stamping the stars is me making a one sided coin two sided, like things should be."
Last year, Mr Harris took part in a large scale exhibition which involved defacing bank notes, called Rebel Not Taken.
"I thought this would be a good continuation," he said.
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"There is a history of protesting in this way and this is a continuation of that protest.
"Supposedly it's illegal to deface money, but I think it's just an archaic law."
