The UK has released a new 50p coin today, in celebration of the UKs work that helped lead to the discovery of dinosaurs.
It was released in collaboration with the natural history museum, and is also a first for Royal Mint, as it also features augmented reality technology!
Royal mint
The latest colour printing technology has been used on the coins, to create them to the highest standard. And, if you download the Royal Mint’s ‘Activate App’ and scan the coins packaging, some AR features will pop up and you can see facts about the dinosaurs and unlock exclusive content. Cool right?
But, unlike some coin releases, these don’t cost 50p. They cost 10 and 20 pounds, and are for collectors only. So bear that in mind before trying to spend them! (This means you shouldn’t find them in circulation either).
Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said: “As one of the nation’s most loved tourist attractions remain closed, we are pleased to partner with the Natural History Museum to bring dinosaurs to life from the comfort of your home.
“It is the first time that The Royal Mint has combined augmented reality with a coin series as we continue to innovate and enrich the experience of coin collecting.
“Simply by scanning the packaging our customers will be able to access exclusive content which celebrates Britain’s role in the discovery of dinosaurs, brings the animals to life through animation and explores the intricate details of each coin.”
There are a few different coin options to choose from, and the Royal Mint page where you can view the coins will be linked below. If you’re upset by the price, remember that these, as mentioned before, are for collectors only! And there has been some great work carried out by different teams to make them as detailed and interactive as possible. Augmented reality and coins aren’t usually something that go hand in hand, so this is another step into the future and an advancement for this fascinating technology.
