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Here's a 50p, made by me! Theo's coin will go into nation's pockets
A TEENAGER has made history after his design for a 50p coin was given the Royal seal of approval.
Theo Crutchley-Mack, 16, is the first teenager to design a British coin after winning a Royal Mint competition to create a 50p piece for the 2012 London Olympics.
The Year 11 pupil at Rishworth School said: "The thought of my design going out into the whole world is absolutely amazing. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I just can't believe it."
The keen trial biker, a member of Pedalsport, Halifax, and Blazing Saddles, Hebden Bridge, rose to the challenge by coming up with a cycling-theme design.
His creation, depicting a cyclist in a velodrome, beat 3,000 other entries and was approved by the Queen and Chancellor Alistair Darling to go into general circulation. Up to three million of the coins will be minted from the autumn as part of a series representing Olympic and paralympic sports.
Dave Knight, the Royal Mint's head of commemorative designs, said: "You can see he knows the subject and he has captured the essence of speed, which is really hard to portray in a drawing.
"It will stay in circulation for maybe 30 to 40 years but the actual coins will last forever. They will long outlive us."
Theo won a one-off gold edition of his coin and 10,000 for his school.
He said: "I would like some to go into the cycling community but I'd also like some to go into the art and design department. It has definitely given me some of the skills to win this."
The coin was unveiled to his schoolmates in a surprise assembly yesterday, when headmaster Richard Baker congratulated the teenager on his win.
He said: "We are feeling immensely proud. He is a fantastic role model for others and it is a really remarkable achievement."
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Weather for Halifax
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
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