Artist defaces Brexit 50p by adding European Union stars to reflect ‘both sides’ of the nation's views

Sam Harris plans to put the defaced coin back into circulation

An artist has defaced a new Brexit 50p piece by engraving it with the European Union stars.

Sam Harris said he came up with the idea as a way to reflect “both sides” of the Brexit debate.

The 20-year-old had a metal stamp featuring the twelve five-pointed stars specially made and then used a hammer to mark the face of the coin which he plans to later put back into circulation.

Mr Harris explained that he tried to get a British crafter to make the stamp – but after he was quoted £150 he found a company in Europe that could make one for £25 in a matter of days.

“I do political art and this was just another piece. I've only made one at the moment,” Harris said.

The defaced Brexit 50p with the European flags (Sam Harris /SWNS.COM)

"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.

Artist had a special stamp made by a company in Europe (Sam Harris /SWNS.COM)

“I thought this would be a good continuation,” he explained.

“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."

Artist Sam Harris plans to put the defaced coin back into circulation (Sam Harris /SWNS.COM)

The new Brexit coins were introduced on 31 January to mark Britain’s exit from the European Union.

The coins are inscribed with the date 31 January and the words, “peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations”.

The Royal Mint has said that three million of the 50p coins will be circulated initially, with another seven million planned for later in the year.

The launch is the third attempt at putting the coins into circulation after they had to be pulled twice when the country missed two proposed dates for leaving the EU.

Last year, one million coins had to be melted down after the 31 October deadline came and went.

Before that, 1,000 prototypes were scrapped when the original exit date of 31 March was not met.