A NEW coin to mark the profound contribution black, minority ethnic and underrepresented communities have made to the UK will enter circulation on Monday.

Around 2.5 million of the coins, which recognise and celebrate Britain’s diverse history, have been created.

It was designed by Dominique Evans, one of the UK’s foremost designers, who drew on her personal experiences of growing up as a mixed-race woman.

The coin features a geodome, which represents a community of connection and strength, with each equal part working together to build something greater. It also features the words “Diversity Built Britain”.

Evans said: “When designing this coin, I began by thinking about the people who inspire me and what diversity has meant in my life. I believe that no matter where you are born, we all belong under the same sky and this was the starting point of the design.”

The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, commissioned the coin earlier this year following discussion with the We Too Built Britain campaign, which works for fair representation of minority communities’ contributions.

Sunak said: “I have seen first-hand the contribution made by ethnic minority communities to Britain’s history.  

“That is why I backed the ‘We Too Built Britain’ campaign and requested that the Royal Mint introduced this coin to celebrate it.

“This coin, and the rest of the series, will act as a fitting tribute to the very profound impact ethnic minority communities have made on Britain, and I am grateful to the Royal Mint for turning this around at record speed.”

Education

The new 50p, the first in a series of coins The Mint will be producing to celebrate those who have helped shape Britain’s national history and culture, comes after a campaign called for British currency to reflect people from diverse backgrounds.

Alongside the release of the coins, the Royal Mint and the West India Committee will also issue education packs to primary schools in England and Wales, so children have the opportunity to learn about the contributions and achievements made by underrepresented groups.

Patrick Vernon, who campaigned for nurse Mary Seacole to be the face of the new £50, told The Voice: “It is great that the campaign has influenced the government and the Royal Mint to recognise the Black and Minority Ethnic contribution to Britain. I was inspired to be involved in the ‘We Too Built Britain’ as result of the successful 100 Great Black Britons Campaign which Mary Seacole was voted Greatest Black Briton in 2004. I hope this will be the start for the Royal Mint to produce future coins reflecting some of the people featured 100 Great Black Britons book as part of our 2020 campaign.”

Zehra Zaidi, who, along with Vernon, leads the Banknotes of Colour campaign calling for British legal tender to break from an age-old tradition and feature a non-white person, said: “Ethnic minority people, as well as all underrepresented groups, need to see themselves represented in British institutions. They need to see their contributions to Britain recognised. It is a part of an invisible social contract and it can build cohesion, promote a sense of belonging, inspire young people and unite us as a nation, showing that we all have an equal stake in society. “

She added: “We are a diverse, modern and global Britain – let’s show that. This coin helps bridge our nation’s past, its diverse present and its future, looking outward, positively, together.”

Prime minister Boris Johnson said: “This new coin echoes the government’s commitment to building a fairer society for all”.