The Royal Mint has moved quickly to ensure that there will be enough two pence pieces in circulation in time for the drop in income tax announced by the Chancellor in yesterday’s budget. Said the Mint’s chairman, Sir Marmaduke Copperbottom on Thursday: ‘we are now minting new “Gordons”, as the coins are already known, and they should fill the demand.’

Sir Copperbottom was quick to issue a warning about the new coins. ‘We’re asking people to be careful with the “Gordons”,’ he said. ‘They tarnish when left too long in the pocket and polishing only makes it worse as they have a terrible habit of trying rise above their station and become five pence pieces. If you must handle them, then please do so as the government intended: give them away with one hand and take them away with the other.’

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